Australian Darts Masters: Prediction, Tips and Odds

The latest PDC World Series event starts on Friday - the Australian Darts Masters - and world champion Luke Humphries, who is 2/1 for glory, headlines the field.

Luke Littler is in attendance as well at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong and is also 2/1 to win the tourmament outright after the two Lukes were housed in the same section of the draw.

Michael van Gerwen and Nathan Aspinall have both opted to skip the event for family reasons.

Australian Darts Masters betting tips and predictions

Rob Cross @ 7/1

Rob Cross has featured in the last three World Series finals - in America, Denmark and Poland - and the Englishman could be set to continue that streak.

Voltage beat Gerwyn Price in the final of the US Darts Masters, then lost to the Welshman in the Nordic Masters.

The last World Series event - in Poland - saw Littler defeat Cross 8-3 in the final. Cross may bounce back in Australia and could prove a popular each-way investment.

He won last year's event at the WIN Entertainment Centre, losing just one leg from the semi-finals stage onwards.

Cross averaged 109.59 when whitewashing Wright in the Wollongong semis last year and they could be set to meet in round two this time.

Veteran Wright has endured a miserable campaign and Cross, who greatly impressed in the World Matchplay until an off night against Michael Smith, will be thrilled with his draw.

Luke Littler @ 2/1

Littler is the No. 1 seed for the Australian Darts Masters, but that status has not given Nuke a great draw for the Wollongong gathering as the Premier League champion will have to overcome some top-class opposition.

Littler has won two of the first five World Series events of the year - firstly in the Bahrain Masters in January, then secondly in the Poland Masters in June.

He was runner-up in the Dutch Masters and has made more impact in the World Series this year than anyone.

If Littler deals with local lad Rob Modra in round one Down Under, Michael Smith will probably be waiting in the quarter-finals, then Luke Humphries or Dimitri Van den Bergh in the semis.

Littler may have to beat a former world champion and the current one just to make the final but he has proved already he is more than capable.

Gerwyn Price @ 11/2

Humphries, who is 2/1 for an Australian Darts Masters triumph, looks set to play Dimitri Van den Bergh in the quarter-finals, then Littler or Michael Smith in the semis.

The top half of the draw is loaded with talent and Gerwyn Price is positioned in the easier half of the Australian Darts Masters draw, so the Welshman may prove a popular selection.

Price has been complaining of illness a lot this year, skipping the World Cup, but a fit and firing Price would be a leading title contender in Australia.

Price lost in the quarter-finals of last year's World Series competition in Wollongong, defeated by Damon Heta. The darting gods have not been kind to him, with the draw meaning that Heta may well be his quarter-final opponent again this time.

If Price and Heta meet again, the home crowd will be vehemently supporting Australia's best arrowsmith.

Price, who lost 6-3 to Heta 12 months ago, would start the match as favourite, and even though The Heat, as Heta is known, is capable of toppling anybody on his day, Price should prevail.

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Australian Darts Masters Odds

Luke Humphries - 2/1
Luke Littler - 2/1
Gerwyn Price - 11/2
Rob Cross - 7/1

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.