2024 World Grand Prix Darts: Find Value in Anderson & Dobey
The 2024 World Grand Prix is upon us with 32 of the world’s best darts players set to battle it out to become champion.
Luke Humphries is the defending titlist and will look to continue a memorable 2024 by triumphing once more in Leicester.
The Grand Prix stands alone in the list of majors as the only tournament that requires players to start and end the leg by hitting a double and will once again make for a fascinating watch.
Here, BetMGM has you covered with all the key information, which players might provide some value for the tournament and a 10/1 three-leg first-round accumulator.
When is the World Grand Prix and how to Watch?
Location: Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Dates & times: 7th-13th October
How to watch: Live on Sky Sports
Format: Set-play (best of five legs per set)
World Grand Prix Tips
Tip 1 – Gary Anderson to win the World Grand Prix @ 9/1
Many argue there is no player better than Gary Anderson and his demolition of world number one and reigning World Grand Prix champion Luke Humphries in Players Championship 24 showed just why.
The Scotsman unleashed a blistering display to defeat Humphries 6-2 in Wigan while averaging a mighty 114.41 in the round of 16 match.
With the latest of his eight PDC major wins coming in the Champions League of Darts back in 2018, questions will be asked about his ability to turn showings like this into victories on the biggest stages, but there will be few in the World Grand Prix that can handle Anderson if he gets it right.
It won’t be easy: he faces a tricky first-round draw against Michael Smith, who he hasn’t beaten since 2022. He is, however, in better form than Smith who has rather flattered to deceive in 2024 so, if he can navigate this one, a favourable draw awaits against the winner of Damon Heta and Mike De Decker while none of the other top three seeds await until at least the quarter-finals.
Anderson has three ranking titles to his name this year and, if he can find his rhythm and showcase what he really is capable of, 9/1 for him to win the tournament outright for the first time looks excellent value.
Tip 2 – Chris Dobey to win the World Grand Prix E/W @ 16/1
In a rich vein of form, 2023 Masters champion Chris Dobey will be eyeing up the World Grand Prix as a genuine chance to win his second major title.
Dobey won Players Championship 25 in Wigan to claim his third title in that competition this year and looked impressive on his way to victory.
His 8-3 final win over Stephen Bunting was special, as was the triumph over Luke Littler and a 7-1 dismantling of Daryl Gurney in the semi-finals.
In short, Dobey is playing with confidence and told of such in his post-match Sky interview when he said: “I’d won a couple of Players Championships already before today, and I know where I am in the Players Championship standings.
“Once I saw I was in that number one spot, I set myself the target of being there at the end and it has given me the motivation to get on the practice board and start performing like this on a regular basis."
His draw, while tricky, could have been harder. The Newcastle thrower faces Joe Cullen in round one, a match in which he can claim revenge after Cullen ended his run in this competition last year at the quarter-final stage.
He has enjoyed a consistent 2024 and an average of 97.31 in 2024 is the fifth-best on tour. Dobey will have to navigate some tough games here to make the final – Michael van Gerwen may well lie in wait in the second round – but he’s shown before he is capable of it.
After two consecutive Grand Prix quarter-final appearances, could 2024 be the year he clinches that second major? At 16/1, he is certainly worth a look each way.
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10/1 World Grand Prix First Round Acca
We’ve put together a treble for the first round of the World Grand Prix, coming in at a tasty 10/1. Here’s a breakdown of the three legs…
Leg 1 – Luke Littler King of the Oche vs Rob Cross @ 43/20
In what looks like a tough first-round draw, World Grand Prix debutant Luke Littler faces Rob Cross.
The teenage sensation though has enjoyed a remarkable 2024, winning both the BetMGM Premier League and the World Series of Darts to go with several ranking tournaments along the way.
The only real blot on his copybook was a first-round exit in the World Matchplay and, in Cross, Littler faces an opponent he knows how to get the better of.
The Nuke has won the last five meetings and has lost only once to Voltage in their eight contests. He was ‘King of the Oche’ (won the match, hit the most 180s and have the highest checkout) when they last met at the Polish Masters – and we’re backing him to do it again here.
Leg 2 – Gian van Veen to beat Ross Smith @ 5/4
Fresh from making the final of the Hungarian Darts Trophy, Gian van Veen makes his World Grand Prix debut here in Leicester.
He performed impressively in the tournament, beating Ryan Searle to set up a final with fellow Dutchman Michael van Gerwen. The 22-year-old took the 48-time major winner all the way and even missed a bullseye checkout to win the tournament while 7-6 up.
Though he went on to lose there is a lot to build on for Van Veen, who takes on Ross Smith in round one. The two have met twice in 2024, winning one apiece, and both meetings have been evenly contested affairs.
Expect the same to happen here – but we’re going with the Dutchman to make the second round.
Leg 3 – Luke Humphries vs Stephen Bunting over 4.5 180s @ 4/6
Only Littler has hit more than Humphries' 529 180s in 2024, with the world number one hitting 107 in the Premier League alone.
He takes on Bunting here, a player himself sitting inside the top 10 for maximums this year with 383.
This should be an interesting match – with Humphries winning three and Bunting two of their last five meetings – and so it’s to the 180s market we head.
Given the penchant these two have for a maximum, over 4.5 at 4/6 looks a decent addition to complete the treble.
World Grand Prix first round acca: 10/1
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change