The Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts gets underway tonight at the Echo Arena, Liverpoool.

The darts action continues around the UK until the playoffs at Wembley Arena at the end of May.

Sky Bet are looking to take on hot favourite Phil Taylor, offering the stand out price of 1/2. I’m sure that price will appeal to many readers, as he’s been in sensational form this year. Taylor is 10/1 with Ladbrokes to win all televised tournaments this year, and 2/1 with Boylesports to remain undefeated in the 2009 Premier League.

Tonight’s highlight is undoubtedly the rematch of the 2009 PDC Final – Taylor v van Barneveld. Taylor is 2/7 with Boylesports, whilst Barney looks a big price at 10/3 with Ladbrokes. Although I’d fully expect Taylor to win, I don’t think that Barney gave a true showing when he lost 7-1 in the PDC Final. Paddy Power go 5/6 for Barney +3.5, which looks like the bet of the night.

My other bet for the tournament is van Barneveld to throw the most 180s at 7/4. In the PDC he threw 46 to Taylor’s 34, and even bagged a memorable 9-darter. I’m hoping that Barney at least gets to the final; he’s a 5/1 shot to win the Premier League outright. Ladbrokes go 15/8 for another Taylor v Barney final.

28/1 Mervyn King and 33/1 Klaasen are both making their debuts, and it’s pretty difficult to make a case for any of the other players.

Recommendation:

3pts @ 7/4 R. van Barneveld Most 180s

bookies.com compares Darts odds from the best UK bookmakers:

Premier League Winner Betting

Premier League Match Index

Premier League Winner W/O Taylor Betting

Premier League Nine Dart Finish Betting

Premier League Most 180s Betting

Phil Taylor is unsurprisingly the red hot 1/2 favourite, with layers taking no chance this year about the 13 times world champ. He failed to reach the final for the first time last year after making some changes to his game, such as a new set of arrows. He drifted out to 4/1 to win the 2009 edition, which looks like a huge price now. ‘The Power’ is back to his best throwing insane averages, meaning that punters are happy to take short prices about him. He made few mistakes in his opener against Steve Grubb, and he should breeze past his next opponent, Michael van Gerwen. 

Next in the betting is Raymond van Barneveld, 7/1 with Victor Chandler and Hills. He was on fire against Mark Stephenson, where he averaged an impressive 100.8. He rarely missed a double and looks like a decent bet to repeat his 2007 heroics. Unfortunately for me, neither of the best-priced bookmakers are offering each way terms.

Boylesports are refunding all outright winner bets on the tournament if 3rd seed James Wade wins. They are also the only firm to offer each way terms on quarter betting.

Also priced at the top end of the markets are 10/1 James Wade and 26/1 Andy Hamilton, who averaged 101.59. Mervyn King needs to be considered at 33/1 and 50/1 Jelle Klaasen has been cut from 240/1 after beating 10th seed Colin Lloyd.

Hamilton reached the semis 2 years ago, but he’ll have to see to Raymond if he’s to progress past his quarter. I am tempted to back 30/1 Anthony Lewis, who beat Barney 9-2 at the European Championship and has a seemingly safe passage into Round 3. 

79/1 Colin Osborne was clinical against Charles Losper on Tuesday night, and looks like a player to follow. I will be particularly interested in his price for ‘Most 180s’ in his next fixture. 

In other darts news, Eric Bristow has agreed to take on women’s champ Anastasia Dobromyslova in a ‘battle of the sexes’. Anastasia is the 4/9 favourite to win the £10,000 match, which won’t be the only thing at stake. Anastasia has recently been averaging about 80, so she should have too much for the 13/8 ‘Crafty Cockney’, who averaged 74 in the Betfred League of Legends. 

bookies.com compares Darts odds from the best UK bookmakers:

PDC World Championship Outright Winner Betting

PDC World Championship Match Betting

BDO World Championships Outright Winner Betting