THE final four first round games in the Betfair World Matchplay take place at the Winter Gardens on Tuesday night and Betfair ambassador Wayne Mardle has uncovered some intriguing betting angles...
Justin Pipe v Joe Cullen
Justin has become one of the hardest players to beat, winning and reaching the latter stages of tour events regularly. His slow, methodical style can be very off-putting and hard to cope with if you like to play a game that flows.
So far, he hasn't quite managed to transfer that form from the floor events to the big stage, but I believe that it's just a matter of time before he does.
Joe Cullen is one of the best younger players in the PDC system. Qualifying for this event alone shows how good he is. On his day, he's more than capable of beating Justin, but I feel that Justin's consistency will be key.
I expect lots of 180s as both can be treble twenty magnates. So I recommend a Pipe win and over 6.5 180s.
Wes Newton v James Hubbard
World number five Newton is one of the games rising stars, winning tour events over the last few years has become an usual sight.
He's yet to repeat the great form he's displayed while competing off the TV while playing in front of the cameras. But just like Pipe, it will happen. Maybe this is his week.
James Hubbard is only 20 - in fact, yesterday he was 19. He has it all, he's clean cut, plays well, talks well.
This is his debut at the Betfair Matchplay but already this year he has beaten Michael van Gerwyn at the O2 to win the World Youth title. In a few years he will take all the beating.
From a betting standpoint, I think the 180s are the best route to loot.
Gary Anderson v Dean Winstanley
On his day, Gary is without question the best scorer in the game. But far too often recently he has not played up to his talent. On top of that, he's had to pull out of a recent event with an eye problem.
If Gary is not 100 percent he will struggle to beat Winstanley, who, although being a newcomer to the PDC, was a proven competition winner within the BDO system and a World Championship finalist in 2011.
So I recommend a Winstanley win.
Dave Chisnall v Ronnie Baxter
Dave Chisnall has very similar credentials to Winstanley, a proven BDO winner and World Championship finalist in 2010, but unlike Dean, he has hit the ground running in the PDC and has become one of the men to beat in any event.
He has won multiple events in his 18 months on the tour. If he can beat Ronnie Baxter in this tough first round, he can go a long long way, maybe even all the way. He certainly has the game.
The main problem that Chisnall faces is Ronnie Baxter, Ronnie himself has had a fantastic couple of months, winning events away from the TV cameras.
Ronnie loves Blackpool so much he lives there, so that makes him the crowd favourite every year and, my goodness, he uses that to his advantage.
The Rocket will not care one iota who he's playing, he just turns up on stage, plays his game and goes home. Reputations do not score him. Chisnall will start favourite and rightly so, but I can see this going the distance.
Chisnall to win 10-8.
Recommended Bets
Back over 6.5 180s @ 1.76 in Justin Pipe v Joe Cullen
Back Over 6.5 180s @ 2.02 in Wes Newton v James Hubbard
Back Dean Winstanley @ 2.92
Back Dave Chisnall to win 10-8 @ 8.2