Jonny Clayton insists his practice will be "business as usual" for the BoyleSports World Grand Prix, while Michael van Gerwen has been singled out by darts punters as the main danger to Gerwyn Price’s hopes of defending his title in Leicester.
Dutchman Van Gerwen is already a five-time winner of the event and ended his wait for a 2021 tournament victory when beating Fallon Sherrock in the final of last month's Nordic Masters in Copenhagen.
BoyleSports, who are offering top price on all players in the outright market, rate the three-time PDC World Champion an 11/2 shot, meaning he is now the stand-alone second favourite ahead of Peter Wright, who has been eased to 6/1 from 11/2 since the draw was made on Monday.
Reigning champion Price remains the 4/1 favourite, while his 2020 World Cup of Darts-winning teammate Jonny Clayton says it's business as usual in terms of practice for the double start event.
"It's a good tournament because it's different," Premier League champion Clayton told BoyleSports.
"All the pressure is on the first dart, not the last, so it can be very, very tricky. But I don't put any more emphasis on it in practice, I have my own way of practicing doubles and I just do my own thing."
? "In this tournament all the pressure is on the first dart, not the last!"
— BoyleSports (@BoyleSports) September 30, 2021
? We spoke to @JonnyClay9 ahead of facing @callanrydz170 at the BoyleSports World Grand Prix!
Bet here ? https://t.co/09xfrok4F7#BoyleSportsWGP #Darts @OfficialPDC @DartsCymru @BoyleSportsLB pic.twitter.com/1XjtkCL7Nm
Clayton is odds-on at 4/11 to win his first round match against Callan Rydz on Monday and a 16/1 shot add to the Masters and Premier League titles already under his belt this year.
Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: "Michael van Gerwen is back on the winners' roster and maybe his stunning record in the BoyleSports World Grand Prix is also partly responsible for some decent backing this week from punters.
"He is second favourite on his own now at 11/2, but Gerwyn Price is still the man they all have to beat if the betting is anything to go by."
BoyleSports World Grand Prix Outright
4/1 Gerwyn Price
11/2 Michael Van Gerwen
6/1 Peter Wright
12/1 Jose de Sousa
16/1 Dimitri Van den Bergh
16/1 Jonny Clayton
25/1 Gary Anderson
28/1 James Wade
33/1 Nathan Aspinall
33/1 Dave Chisnall
33/1 Joe Cullen
40/1 bar
Most Tournament Full Houses (Win Match, Most 180s, Highest Checkout)
4/1 Gerwyn Price
4/1 Peter Wright
6/1 Michael van Gerwen
6/1 Dimitri Van den Bergh
6/1 Jose de Sousa
11/1 Jonny Clayton
11/1 Nathan Aspinall
14/1 bar
Total Tournament Full Houses
5/6 Over 8.5
5/6 Under 8.5
Nine-Dart Finish?
1/8 No
9/2 Yes
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