Darts: Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen installed as joint 9/2 favourites for PDC World Grand Prix
We take a look at the 2022 World Grand Prix field and assess who the biggest challengers to the pre-tournament joint-favourites, Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen, could be.
World number one Gerwyn ‘The Iceman’ Price will be hoping history repeats itself at the Morningside Arena next week, as the Welshman plots a second World Grand Prix crown following his success two years ago.
The 37-year-old has been installed as the joint 9/2 pre-tournament favourite, alongside Michael Van Gerwen, to reign supreme in Leicester, and further cement his standing at the summit of the PDC order of merit.
Price, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past few years, claimed the title in 2020 courtesy of a 5-2 success over Dirk van Duijvenbode (25/1), and went close to defending the trophy 12 months ago before succumbing to Jonny Clayton in the final.
Price gets his 2022 quest underway against one of three debutants next Tuesday, the world number 36 Martin Schindler, who is 12/5 to dump the former Rugby League player out of the competition in the first round, and 125/1 to secure his first ranking title.
Dutchman van Gerwen, also priced at 9/2 to add to his mammoth honours list, will have to navigate a safe passage beyond Gary Anderson (50/1) if he is to keep alive his hopes of winning the double-in-double-out format competition for a sixth time.
The two multiple world champions meet in a mouth-watering first round showdown on Monday, with van Gerwen the 4/9 favourite to secure a spot in the last 16 with the Flying Scotsman the underdog, priced up at 7/4.
Meanwhile, Clayton, who romped to a 5-1 success over Price 12 months ago, can be backed at 15/2 to replicate the form that saw him notch up four titles in 2021, whilst reigning world champion Peter Wright is 7/1 to kick back into gear having struggled for form since his January triumph at Ally Pally.
There will be a plethora of other tungsten talent on show in Leicester too, with the likes of Michael Smith (12/1), Luke Humphries (12/1) and Dimitri van den Bergh (14/1) all hoping to go deep into the tournament as they look to find a winning formula as the season nears its boiling point.
Twice beaten finalist Dave Chisnall, priced at 20/1 to end his ranking title duck, meets van den Bergh in round one and will be eager to build upon his success at the Belgian Darts Open recently and back up the claims of many who feel he has the perfect game to go all the way in Leicester.
Others who are likely to draw betting attention include reigning UK Open champion Danny Noppert, priced at 25/1, prolific double-hitter James Wade (33/1) and former back-to-back world champion Adrian Lewis (125/1).
All odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. Outright Winner market closes on Tuesday 3rd October, 2022, at 19:10.
