The Power to put the Asset in his place

With more shocks than a knife filled toaster so far, the Grand Prix is proving a real pig to predict and I had a shocker, as I’m sure many other did, last night.  But undeterred I’ll keep plugging away and see if I can boost my ever dwindling betting fund in the last of the second round matches.

First up is Mark Webster v Alan Tabern both of whom were pushed to the limit in their opening round matches, and will both be relieved to still be competing in Dublin.  The Saint reminded everyone of his scrapping abilities against Chisnall and he will no doubt put in a similar performance against the Welshman, however Spider has turned into a really serious contender in the last two years or so and of course is a former World Champ and I don’t see him losing this one.

Simon Whitlock wasn’t overly impressive in his first round win over Terry Jenkins and he will have to do more if he is to avoid a surprise defeat to Mark Hylton tonight.  Mile High has been impressing and making his way up the rankings over the last year or so and is certainly a dangerous opponent for anyone and Whitlock will not be taking him for granted though.  The problem I see for Hylton is that he is very much a rhythm player and in this format, where missing starting doubles is fatal, that could cost him.  Compare that to the surgical precision of the Wizard and I think there can only be one winner and he is from Australia.

The main event of the evening will, without doubt, be Phil Taylor v Paul Nicholson and it could well be a real show-stopper.  I don’t for a second believe that Nicholson “has Taylor’s number” just because he has beaten him in a couple of tournaments and quite rightly the Power will be clear favourite for the contest.  Having said that, it will be a close one, the Asset is lethal on the double 16 and won’t have too much problem getting started in legs, but I fancy Taylor to just edge it.

The final contest is easily the tightest as the odds suggest with Skybet placing both Richie Burnett and Dennis Ovens at 10/11.  Clearly Burnett had the better performance in the opening round, defeating Anderson, but Ovens has had one of the best years of his lengthy career so far and will not want to be another chapter in the Welshman’s fairy tale story.  There won’t be much in it but I fancy the Heat to be too much for Burnett and Ovens to reach the quarters.