PHIL TAYLOR LEADS OUTRIGHT BETTING ON PDC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF DARTS

With the onset of the PDC World Championship of Darts soon to be upon us, many popular UK bookmakers are listing Phil 'The Power' Taylor as the odds-on favourite to secure another massive result. As usual, Raymond van Barneveld is right behind Taylor, listed at 13/2 compared to Taylor's 8/15. Perennial contender Adrien Lewis is also in the hunt, listed at 25/1.MATCH BETTING UP NEXTAs the event draws nearer, match betting will become available, but at the moment totesport has us restricted to Outright Winner. At this point, you really can't back anybody but Taylor, although we all know van Barneveld is capable of putting a result together. He's been putting in some quality performances during the Premier League of Darts this season and although I don't favour Barney to take the World Championship, you know he will be the immediate favourite should The Power slip up at any point. A total of 32 players are seeded with 12 players competing in the preliminary rounds for a birth in the first round. Depending on how the tournament ultimately unfolds, we'll be in for some really good value as the better players start mixing it up in the later rounds of the competition.BACK TAYLOR AND BACK HIM NOW! Take a look at the first-round match-ups, but remember that you're looking for value in the outright betting at this point- if Taylor breezes through his first two matches, he'll probably find his odds slashed considerably, so if you're backing Taylor- get in while the getting's good. MATCH-UPSPhil Taylor 1 v Steve GrubbMichael van Gerwen 32 (Ned) v Darin Young (US)Roland Scholten 16 (Ned) v Carlos Rodriguez (Spa)Kevin Painter 17 v Matt ClarkWayne Mardle 8 v Fatum/O'ConnorWayne Jones 25 v Robert Thornton (Sco)Alan Tabern 9 v Steve Beaton Adrian Lewis 6 v Russell Stewart (Aus) Adrian Gray 27 v Paul Nicholson (Aus) Dennis Priestley 11 v French/Nagakawa Chris Mason 22 v John MaGowan (NI) James Wade 3 v Brendan Dolan (NI) Tony Eccles 30 v Van Eijden/Dobromyslova Colin Osborne 14 v Losper/Fitzgerald Vincent van der Voort 19 (Ned) v Nandor Bezzeg (Hun)Andy Jenkins 24 v Co Stompe (Ned)Terry Jenkins 5 v Dennis SmithAlex Roy 28 v Kevin McDineMervyn King 12 v Schnier/YongshengMark Walsh 21 v Jamie CavenJohn Part 4 (Can) v Bill Davis (US)Barrie Bates 29 (Wal) v Felix McBrearty (NI)Peter Manley 13 v Mensur Suljovic (Aut)Mark Dudbridge 20 v Nick FullwellRaymond van Barneveld 2 (Ned) v Mark StephensonWes Newton 31 v Per Laursen (Den)Ronnie Baxter 15 v Kantele/IlaganDenis Ovens 18 v Steve MaishAndy Hamilton 7 v Michael BarnardAndy Smith 26 v Tony AyresColin Lloyd 10 v Jelle Klaasen (Ned)Kirk Shepherd 23 v Jan van der Rassel (Ned)