MICHAEL VAN GERWEN is the 2/1 pre-tournament favourite to win the BetVictor World Matchplay in Blackpool next week, with reigning champion Phil Taylor 7/2 to win a 15th Winter Gardens title.
Tournament sponsors BetVictor make World Champion and number one seed van Gerwen the 2/1 favourite to claim his first World Matchplay win when this year's event is held from July 19-27.
Van Gerwen is also a heavy 1/9 favourite to win his first round match against Steve Beaton on the opening night of the £450,000 tournament this Saturday, with the former Lakeside Champion 11/2 to cause an upset at the Winter Gardens.
14-time World Matchplay champion Taylor is the 7/2 second favourite with BetVictor to extend his amazing winning streak in Blackpool to a seventh successive triumph.
Taylor is also 1/16 to defeat Darren Webster when they meet in Sunday's first round game, with the Norfolk thrower 15/2 to end Taylor's six-year unbeaten record in the tournament.
Reigning UK Open champion Adrian Lewis, who lost last year's thrilling final against Taylor, is 8/1 to win his first World Matchplay title, while resurgent Gary Anderson is rated at 12/1 after winning five ranking events in returning to the world's top 16 this year.
2007 World Matchplay winner James Wade, also a four-time Blackpool finalist, is rated at 14/1 for the title alongside new Premier League Darts champion Raymond van Barneveld, who reached the 2010 final at the Winter Gardens.
BetVictor are offering 10/11 for a nine-dart finish to be landed in Blackpool next week, with two perfect legs being seen in the 2012 tournament - by van Gerwen and Wes Newton - to follow previous World Matchplay nine-darters from Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and John Part.
BetVictor's range of odds for the tournament also includes a special Name The Finalists market, with a van Gerwen-Taylor decider the 7/2 favourite.
A van Gerwen-Lewis final is rated at 9/1, while a fifth World Matchplay final between Taylor and Wade is rated as a 16/1 chance.
"The quality of darts was extraordinary 12 months ago, but we expect the standard to be even higher this year," said Charlie McCann, BetVictor Director of PR.
"We have already seen unprecedented demand on the event, with Phil Taylor very popular at 7/2 as he chases a 15th title, and our offer of 10/11 for a nine-dart finish is already coming under pressure."
To see the full range of BetVictor World Matchplay odds, visit www.betvictor.com.
BetVictor World Matchplay
Outright Winner
2/1 Michael van Gerwen
7/2 Phil Taylor
8/1 Adrian Lewis
12/1 Gary Anderson
14/1 James Wade
14/1 Raymond van Barneveld
22/1 Simon Whitlock
22/1 Peter Wright
33/1 Robert Thornton
33/1 Dave Chisnall
40/1 Stephen Bunting
50/1 Brendan Dolan
66/1 Kim Huybrechts
66/1 Andy Hamilton
66/1 Ian White
66/1 Michael Smith
80/1 Wes Newton
80/1 Terry Jenkins
80/1 Jamie Caven
125/1 Vincent van der Voort
125/1 Mervyn King
150/1 Justin Pipe
150/1 Dean Winstanley
150/1 Kevin Painter
150/1 Paul Nicholson
200/1 Richie Burnett
200/1 Ronnie Baxter
250/1 Andrew Gilding
300/1 Steve Beaton
400/1 Darren Webster
500/1 Wayne Jones
500/1 Andy Smith
E/W 1/2 1,2
First Round Match Odds
Saturday July 19
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
First Round
Ian White 4/5 Terry Jenkins Evs
Simon Whitlock 1/3 Kevin Painter 9/4
Michael van Gerwen 1/9 Steve Beaton 11/2
James Wade 1/5 Andy Smith 7/2
Sunday July 20
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
First Round
Dave Chisnall 1/2 Dean Winstanley 13/8
Brendan Dolan 4/9 Richie Burnett 7/4
Robert Thornton 2/5 Paul Nicholson 2/1
Andy Hamilton 1/3 Wayne Jones 9/4
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
First Round
Justin Pipe 11/10 Michael Smith 8/11
Wes Newton 8/15 Ronnie Baxter 6/4
Phil Taylor 1/16 Darren Webster 15/2
Raymond van Barneveld 2/7 Vincent van der Voort 11/4
Monday July 21
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
First Round
Peter Wright 4/6 Stephen Bunting 6/5
Mervyn King 11/8 Kim Huybrechts 4/7
Adrian Lewis 1/7 Andrew Gilding 9/2
Gary Anderson 4/11 Jamie Caven 11/5
Nine-Dart Finish
10/11 Yes
10/11 No
Name The Finalists
7/2 Michael van Gerwen v Phil Taylor
9/1 Michael van Gerwen v Adrian Lewis
11/1 Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
16/1 Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
16/1 James Wade v Phil Taylor
20/1 Michael van Gerwen v Peter Wright
25/1 Michael van Gerwen v Robert Thornton
28/1 Simon Whitlock v Phil Taylor
Further odds available at www.betvictor.com
Odds correct as at 12pm on Thursday July 17 and courtesy www.betvictor.com. Odds subject to change.