It is nearly time for the second World Seniors Darts Matchplay and the game's veterans will head to York for this year's event.

Scotland's Robert Thornton is the defending champion, having won the tournament at the Bonus Arena in Hull in July 2022.

This year's event will start on Saturday 2nd September and run until Sunday 3rd and 14-time world champion Phil Taylor heads the list of names heading to Yorkshire.

What	World Seniors Matchplay
Where	York Barbican, York
When	Saturday 2nd September - Sunday 3rd September
How to watch	TNT Sports
Odds	John Henderson 4/1, Leonard Gates 5/1, Robert Thornton 6/1, Richie Howson 13/2, Scott Mitchell 7/1

"The Power" may have the highest profile at the upcoming event, but there are others who are shorter in the market.

We take a look at the players who are currently leading the betting...

John Henderson @ 4/1

Former World Cup of Darts winner John Henderson makes his way televised Seniors debut in September, opening his account against 2022 World Seniors Masters champion David Cameron.

The Scot recently reached the semi-finals of the MODUS Super Series, while his last win came on the PDC Challenge Tour.

Henderson has been playing at the highest level most recently, so it is easy to see why "The Highlander" leads the market at 4/1.

Leonard Gates @ 5/1

American Leonard Gates will make the trip across the pond for the World Seniors Matchplay and he will fancy his chances after some recent successes.

While he has so far failed to win any event on the PDC Tour, Gates has impressed at Senior level.

He won the North American Championship in 2022 and he has already won the World Seniors Champion of Champions and World Seniors Masters this year.

He takes on Order of Merit qualifier Colin McGarry in round one and he has experience of this event, having reached the quarter-finals last year.

Robert Thornton @ 6/1

Scotland's Robert Thornton returns to defend his crown, having beaten Taylor 12-10 in last year's final. Taylor missed two match darts to win the event, with Thornton eventually reeling him back in to lift the trophy.

Thornton rolled back the years to beat some of darts' biggest names in 2022, with Terry Jenkins and Martin Adams unable to stop him en route to the final.

The 56-year-old has won three Seniors titles already and, at 6/1, he looks good value to go all the way, especially as he has been there and done it before.

Richie Howson @ 13/2

It is fair to say that Richie Howson has hit the post one too many times this year, finishing as runner-up in all three televised Seniors events this year.

His latest quest for silverware will start against ten-time Women's World Champion Trina Gulliver, so he will not have it all his own way.

The experience he has picked up in the last few weeks will have done him the world of good and it would be brave to back against him at 13/2.

Scott Mitchell @ 7/1

Former BDO world champion Scott Mitchell will hope to roll back the years when he competes in York.

Mitchell will face Paul Hogan in round one, who progressed through the final qualifying event in Reading last week.

Mitchell's form has not been the best on the Seniors tour, but he will fancy his chances in round one, while he is 7/1 to go all the way.

Jim McEwan @ 10/1

Scotland's Jim McEwan was recently in action in the PDC Challenge Tour and he won four games on the spin in Milton Keynes - overcoming John Cook, Jim Moston, Stu Wilson and Andy Steed.

He has won two titles on the Challenge Tour in the last two years, but he will need to dig deep to try and make a deep run into the final stages.

Phil Taylor @ 11/1

Double-figure odds of 11/1 for Phil Taylor to win a darts title is not common practice, but the 63-year-old has not been too busy of late.

He is one of he players who will compete after an invitation but, as he showed last year, he can get back to a good level pretty quickly.

Taylor and John Part, who face each other in round one, were both handed invites and Taylor will hope to improve on his last two Senior outings.

Taylor lost to Dennis Harbour in his second match of the World Seniors Masters, while Gates got the better of him in his first match of the World Seniors Champion of Champions.

Kevin Painter @ 12/1

Kevin "The Artist" Painter has had a tough time of it of late, losing in his opening match in the World Seniors Masters 2023 and World Seniors Champion of Champions 2023.

Last year, the 12/1 shot did reach the semi-finals of the Seniors Matchplay, but his current form suggests that that success will not be repeated this year.