Jones to Make Home Support Count at Grand Slam of Darts

The bookmakers are predicting a number of closely contested fixtures on the opening evening of the Grand Slam of Darts as the PDC and BDO players go head to head to determine who the best of the best is.

It is apt that Simon Whitlock gets the event underway as he is a shining example of what can be achieved by players crossing the divide from the BDO to the PDC. However, he faces a tricky proposition in 30-year-old Dave Chisnall who was runner-up in the 2010 BDO World Championships.  At odds of 2/7 with the majority of bookmakers the Aussie is widely expected to emerge victorious but will have to be on top of his game to progress.

The other Group A game is between Robert Thornton and Colin Osborne. Thornton threatened to make it big on the PDC circuit a couple of years back but has faltered over the last 18 months and has been a little too inconsistent. At his best though he is more than a match for Osborne and could upset the odds at 5/4 with the bookmakers.

Another closely contested match between Wayne Jones and Mark Webster concludes Group B. Jones has been one of the most improved players in darts over the past 12 months and has climbed up to number 13 in the PDC rankings as a result. Webster has an abundance of talent but his refusal to commit to the sport on a full-time basis has hindered his progression in the sport. The bookmakers have Jones at a shade of odds on and with the added bonus of home support he could be the best bet of the night.

The night concludes when Tony O’Shea of the BDO takes on Vincent van der Voort of the PDC. Both players have struggled for consistency over the course of the season and it could be a case of who will lose this one rather than who will win it. One factor that shouldn’t be overlooked is the timing of the match, at the end of the night the crowds in the PDC tend to be typically raucous as the evening’s indulgences take effect.

As a four year veteran of the PDC circuit van der Voort is perhaps better equipped to cope with the intense atmosphere. And so, at the generally available odds of 11/10 the Dutchman is likely to be a popular bet amongst punters.