Two-time BDO world champion Ted Hankey has made it clear that potentially playing the Premier League was a major factor in his decision to make the switch to the PDC following the World Championships. ‘The Count’ was one of three semi-finalists at last month’s BDO World Championships to be offered the chance to join the PDC, however, he was the only one who decided to make the switch.
Hankey has admitted it wasn’t an easy decision to make, although he did make it clear he is extremely excited about being involved in the ever-growing PDC, especially as it gives him the chance of breaking into the Premier League and all the benefits that comes with competing on darts’ biggest stage. Those looking at the darts betting need to remember this.
“It’s an exciting time for me and I’m starting a new chapter in my career. I had 15 great years with the BDO and I thank them, but it’s time to move on now,” he said.
“Of course I can play in the PDC, everyone knows I can, I’ve won two world titles and they aren’t just given to you, you’ve got to earn them.”
“Everyone wants to play in the Premier League. I watch it at home and think wow look at those crowds but I’ve got to work to get there, you don’t just get handed the Premier League.”
Hankey has proven throughout the years that he has the confidence needed to challenge the world’s best, now he’ll have the chance to prove he has the talent to match his self-belief. People following Betfair online should bear this in mind.
The two-time world champion probably had to make the move at this stage in his career and the 49-year old will know he won’t have too many chances left to try and add some more titles to his collection.
Phil Taylor has said the challenge from pretenders to his throne keeps him motivated and is determined to win back his PDC World Darts Championship title (Taylor 5/6 – PDC World Darts Championship outright).
The Stoke legend saw his hopes of a 16th world title shattered by Mark Webster 12 months ago as fellow Potteries thrower Adrian Lewis made his big breakthrough at Alexandra Palace.
‘Jackpot’ is among a clutch of a new breed at the oche, along with the likes of James Wade and Gary Anderson, plus emerging rivals Paul Nicholson and Wes Newton, but Taylor refuses to accept his time is at an end.
He said: “I wake up some mornings and don’t feel like practising. So I just think about the young players coming through and that soon gets me out of bed and on the board.”
Taylor returns to second-round action in north London on Tuesday when he meets 2010 Lakeside runner-up Dave Chisnall (Taylor 1/10 Chisnall 6/1 – match prices) and knows he has to stay on his toes to have any chance of progressing.
The 51-year-old told The Sentinel: “I’ve been through four or five generations of players now. They all come along saying they will win more titles than me, so I beat them.
“After that, another group comes along, so I beat them too. I just want to keep winning and nobody can beat me - only myself. If I don’t practice enough or I’m tired, there are so many good players out there who can take advantage.”
15-time world champion Phil Taylor has warned his rivals that he has been putting in hours of practice over the Christmas period to ensure he is at his best for the conclusion of the 2012 PDC World Championship (Taylor 5/6 to win the PDC World Championship 2012).
The Power returns on Tuesday evening to take on Dave Chisnall for a place in the last 16 of darts’ premier event (Match betting with bet365 – Taylor 1/10, Chisnall 10/1).
The 51-year-old was eliminated at the quarter-final stage last year by Mark Webster following a tough year in his private life.
Taylor has admitted that he has been unable to concentrate fully on his darts recently and was not overly impressed with his first round performance over Japanese qualifier Haruki Muramatsu, despite coming through with a 3-0 scoreline.
“I wanted to average 110 in my opening match to put the heebee-geebees on the other players,” he told the Daily Star.
“So I resolved to practice three times on Christmas Day. I always watch the Queen’s speech – I wouldn’t miss it for the world – but if you want to win the World Darts Championship, you have to treat it as another working day.”
The winner of the tie between Taylor and Chisnall will face either Andy Hamilton or Vincent van der Voort.
Tags: bet on darts, bet on the PDC World Championship, darts bet, darts betting, darts odds, Dave Chisnall, PDC World Championship bet, PDC World Championship betting, PDC World Championship odds, phil taylor
PDC World Championship | Darts Betting News | December 26, 2011 18:47 |
Richie Burnett survived a five-set ding-dong to see off countryman Mark Webster 3-2 on the opening night of the PDC World Darts Championship.
Two-time semi-finalist Webster, who last year sent 15-time world champion Phil Taylor packing from the competition, had promised to “go one better” at Alexandra Palace but missed too many chances against his gutsy opponent in a see-saw all-Welsh encounter which included 20 maximums. Those following the darts odds will have been very impressed.
Webster, beaten finalist at the recent Cash Converters Players Championship, was never in front in sets and the 1995 Lakeside Champion took advantage when the sixth seed missed three darts at double five to close out the win.
After the match, a delighted Burnett said: “That was a hard draw for both of us and a tough game to play, but I’m thrilled to have won.
“My scoring was excellent throughout the game and that created chances for me.”
Burnett has enjoyed a return to form in 2011, winning the PDPA Players Championship Holland and reaching the semi-finals of the Grand Prix, and admitted he was relishing his chance to get back among the big boys. People looking for World Darts betting tips need to bear this in mind.
Asked if he could go on to claim another Major title, Burnett replied: “I think so. I have the game and still have the same ability. Also, I have the knowledge and know what not to do and what to do.”
He said: “I feel that my game is back to where it was when I was at the top of the game and if I continue to score well then I’m a match for anybody.”
Raymond van Barneveld is confident of putting in a big performance at the upcoming PDC World Darts Championship and insists that his self-belief has returned (van Barneveld 25/1 Tournament Outright with bet365).
The Dutchman has not enjoyed his best year as a professional and his form at the recent Grand Slam of Darts and last week’s Players Championship does not bode well for his chances at Alexandra Palace (Barney 8/1 to throw 9-Dart Finish).
The five-time world champion failed to win any of his three group games in Wolverhampton, while he was beaten in the second round by Scott Rand at at the Doncaster Dome.
But he remains a class act on his day and his accuracy on the treble twenty when he gets into a groove is as good as any in the sport.
The 2007 PDC world champion will have to get past some top-class opponents if he is to make the final at the London venue but he is clearly in a positive frame of mind heading into the prestigious event.
“I know I have a tough draw as I could face Brendan Dolan, Paul Nicholson and then maybe Phil Taylor but if you believe in yourself you can achieve anything,” he said.
And despite a poor run of results, the man from the Hague is adamant that he will again peak for the year’s biggest tournament.
“I can handle the pressure. If you look back at the last five or six years I always do well at the worlds,” he added to Sportinglife.com. “I know I’m going to do well this year but I have to put a lot of work in and I’m not afraid of that.”
Mark Webster has promised not to dwell on his Cash Converters Players Championship defeat at the weekend and insists he will be ready for a shot at glory at the upcoming PDC World Darts Championship, starting on Thursday.
The 28-year-old was denied a career-first PDC Major title on Sunday when he lost 13-9 to Kevin Painter at the Doncaster Dome but knows he cannot afford to wallow in self-pity. Those who bet on darts should bear this in mind.
“I’m devastated,” said the 2008 BDO world champion after his defeat by ‘The Artist’ in South Yorkshire. “I underperformed in the final and Kevin played really well and he deserved it.
“I never settled from the word go and I’m really disappointed, but Kevin took out some great shots.”
All roads now lead to Alexandra Palace in north London and the chance to go one better than the last four last year and those looking at the darts betting tips will no doubt be keeping an eye on him.
Webster made the last four in the UK Open and has reached the quarter-finals of both the World Matchplay and Grand Slam in a breakthrough 2011 but he admits the ultimate prize still eludes him.
The Welshman has lost to the eventual winners of the year-end showpiece event at Ally Pally for the last two stagings of the competition.
‘Webby’ faces Richie Burnett in the first round in an all-Principality clash and accepts he has to hit the ground running.
He added: “I’m down at the moment but I’ve got to pick myself up because I’ve got my first round game in the World Championship to play on Thursday night. If I can become world champion this will be forgotten about.”
Mark Webster has promised to bury his Cash Converters Players Championship disappointment in time for the PDC World Darts Championship, which starts on Thursday (Webster 12/1 – To Reach The Final – bet365).
The Wales thrower was denied his first Major title when he lost 13-9 to Kevin Painter in the final at Doncaster Dome on Sunday night and must now dust himself down to challenge at Alexandra Palace.
Webster has lost to the eventual winners of the year-end showpiece event in north London for the last two stagings of the competition and is determined to announce himself on the big stage.
“I’m devastated,” said the 2008 BDO world champion after his defeat by ‘The Artist’. “I underperformed in the final and Kevin played really well and he deserved it.
“I never settled from the word go and I’m really disappointed, but Kevin took out some great shots.”
The 28-year-old faces Richie Burnett in the first round in an all-Principality clash (Webster 2/7 Burnett 11/4 – match prices – bet365) and accepts there can be no hangover from his South Yorkshire setback.
He added: “I’m down at the moment but I’ve got to pick myself up because I’ve got my first round game in the World Championship to play on Thursday night. If I can become world champion this will be forgotten about.”
Mervyn King blew the Cash Converters Players Championship wide open with a stunning 8-5 win against his great rival Phil Taylor at the Doncaster Dome on Saturday night.
‘The King’ claimed only his second televised victory against the 15-time world champion to end Taylor’s hopes of securing a third Players Championship title in four stagings of the event.
The 45-year-old set the tone for this stunning South Yorkshire upset when he burst into a 3-1 lead and continued to put down big scores. Those who bet on darts should remember this.
The Essex thrower closed out the shock victory on double five to inflict a first televised defeat since June for Taylor and first win over the world number one since the 2009 Premier League Darts semi-finals.
“It’s always an honour to play Phil and to beat him is special,” said King. “I got the win and that’s all that matters, but I did get nervous at the end.
“Most of the match darts which missed were good darts at a double that didn’t go in, but it was a big relief to see the double five go in.”
King now takes on Kevin Painter, who beat Gary Anderson 8-4, in Sunday afternoon’s quarter-finals, as the pair clash in the first of three matches on the day which would give them their maiden PDC major titles. Fans of darts betting tips should bear this in mind.
UK Open runner-up Wes Newton, Grand Slam of Darts semi-finalist Mark Walsh, world number three James Wade, Scott Rand, Dave Chisnall and Mark Webster also made it through to the next round on Sunday.
The £250,000 tournament will end on Sunday evening, with the semi-finals followed by the final at the Doncaster Dome.
Paul Nicholson has admitted he has been given a difficult first assignment in his quest to defend his unbeaten record at the Cash Converters Players Championship, starting on Thursday.
‘The Asset’ will tee-off against Steve Brown in an awkward opening round fixture at the Doncaster Dome.
Three Players Championship victories this year ensured his spot in the 32-player tournament in South Yorkshire but Nicholson knows ‘The Bomber’ is a live danger to his chances of winning a second major tournament and those looking at the darts betting should remember this.
“It’s not going to be an easy task,” said the 32-year-old.
“I know Steve prepares well, he’s a very good professional and I’ve been impressed with him for the past two years.”
Nicholson added: “He’s not just a good professional darts player but his approach to the youth darts is very impressive. He does a lot of work with his own academy and he has a lot time for other people.”
Nicholson has beaten Brown twice already in 2011 – and three times in all competitions – to remain unbeaten against the Bristol thrower, but knows he faces a potential banana skin. Fans of Betfair darts should bear this in mind.
Nicholson added: “We’re probably at similar points in our careers, maybe I’m a little bit ahead of him, but he’s the kind of player you can never count out, because he plays with a lot of grit and determination.”
Nicholson could meet James Wade or Andy Smith in the second round and has a potential quarter-final with five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld in Doncaster – but insisted he would not be looking beyond his best-of-11 leg contest with Brown.
“It’s a short format, like a ProTour game, so you can’t look beyond that,” he told the PDC official website. “If I can get past Steve I can start looking ahead.”
Raymond van Barneveld will go down as one of the best darts players ever to have graced the professional oche, but he has only won the PDC World Championship once and will be dreaming of adding to that at the Alexandra Palace in December.
The Dutch former postman won four BDO World Championships before switching to the PDC and within 12 months of crossing the divide he had risen to number two in the world rankings and won the PDC World Championships. Anyone looking at the best online darts odds should remember this.
In the 2007 final he met 15-time world champion Phil Taylor in one of the greatest ever matches, coming from three sets down to beat ‘The Power’ in a sudden death leg to match the legend Eric Bristow’s record of five world titles.
Since that world title, van Barneveld has failed to enjoy any real measure of consistency and has not added another TV title to his impressive career trophy haul.
With the PDC World Championships around the corner he is not going into the competition in any real form and was really poor at the Grand Slam of Darts, going out in the group stage without recording any victories.
‘Barney’ is going to have to turn things around if he wants to add to his world title haul, but he does have a tendency for his head to drop when he gets behind and that has happened on far too many occasions in 2011.
Van Barneveld will always be mentioned among the greats of the darting world, but if he really wants to be regarded up there with the likes of Taylor he needs to prove himself more in the PDC and another world title would help do that.
Sport News 24/7
Two-time BDO world champion Ted Hankey has made it clear that potentially playing the Premier League was a major factor in his decision to make the switch to the PDC following the World Championships. ‘The Count’ was one of three semi-finalists at last month’s BDO World Championships to be offered the chance to join the PDC, however, he was the only one who decided to make the switch. 
