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Winmau World Masters: Prediction, Tips and Odds

The 13th PDC World Masters will get up and running on Thursday with the cream of the darting crop in Milton Keynes to toe the oche in a very different looking event.

The first 12 Masters' events were non-ranking with the first eight tournaments featuring the top 16 in the world and, since 2020, a field of 24.

But this year it's all change. The world's top 24 are involved and drawn straight into round one alongside eight qualifiers from a frenetic qualifying competition featuring over 120 players.

The other big change, and a throwback to the old Winmau World Masters, is that the event has gone from legs to sets - and for even greater jeopardy it's only three legs per set.

Winmau World Masters

Winmau World Masters betting tips and predictions

Stephen Bunting to win Winmau World Masters - 10/1

A new tournament but the same faces at the head of the betting with world champion Luke Littler and world No.1 Luke Humphries all the rage.

By far the classiest acts of 2024, the year ended badly for Humphries, dumped out of the World Championship by Peter Wright in the last 16, leaving the way clear for Littler to nick his crown.

Both men have lined up at the first two events of 2025, the Bahrain Masters and the Dutch Masters, but neither has completely convinced.

'Cool Hand' reached the semis in Bahrain but fell at the first hurdle against a resurgent Jermaine Wattimena in Den Bosch. Littler was picked off by Gerwyn Price in the Bahrain quarters but beat Michael van Gerwen to make the semis in the Netherlands.

Early mishaps aside, they remain two class acts but if the last couple of weeks may have taught us anything it's that training on after a short break isn't always that easy.

And to that end, in a field this good and with the vagaries of best-of-three leg sets to decipher, there are plenty of other possibilities.

And surely no one invites confidence more than Stephen Bunting.

It was Bunting who did for Humphries in Bahrain where he went on to lift the trophy. It was Bunting who did for Littler in Den Bosch where he went on to lose to Rob Cross in the final.

And at the end of a few weeks in which he also reached the semis at Alexandra Palace, there is no question that 'The Bullet' is playing the best darts of his career.

He is the defending champion this week - albeit in a very different tournament - and as a twice winner of the original Winmau World Masters, back in 2012 and 2013, happy memories of the format should serve him well.

Ryan Searle to win Winmau World Masters - 50/1

Stephen Bunting is in the top half of the draw, Luke Littler is the stand-out name in the bottom half but at a cramped price other names may be preferred.

Michael van Gerwen is the next best in the betting in this half but would need to improve on his effort against Littler in the quarter-finals in Den Bosch last week, a match the 18-year-old won easily 6-3.

That's twice in three weeks Littler has done for Van Gerwen, having also denied him in the world final, and while 'MVG' looks better than he did in a hit-and-miss 2024, the throw is not the same as when in his pomp and he looks far less reliable.

Gary Anderson makes his seasonal reappearance this week and he was throwing better than anyone for long spells of '24. He also didn't win anything of note and kept finding ways to lose which is a negative.

At a far bigger price, how about Ryan Searle to outrun his odds.

He started 2024 in style by reaching the first three Players Championship finals, winning one of them.

He played only two games at the worlds but bowed out with a 100-plus tournament average, eventually succumbing in the last 32 to Ryan Joyce in an epic.

'Heavy Metal' will try to blast his way under the radar and we know he has the measure of anyone in this field if he is hitting his doubles.

Read more darts betting tips and predictions on site.

Winmau World Masters Odds

Luke Littler - 2/1
Luke Humphries -
9/2
Michael van Gerwen -
9/1
Gerwyn Price -
10/1
Stephen Bunting -
10/1
Gary Anderson -
12/1
Rob Cross -
18/1
Chris Dobey -
22/1
Michael Smith -
22/1

View the full market and more odds for Winmau World Masters on site.

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.

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