5 minutes The Verdict: Recent form a key to the Cazoo Masters
For the past few years, the Masters has been the wild card for darts players lurking just outside the top eight, giving them a shot at sneaking into the Premier League of Darts. Jonny Clayton, Joe Cullen, and Chris Dobey have all taken this chance to break into the big time, with Clayton grabbing a win and Cullen narrowly missing out.
It's a bit disappointing that this year, the Masters is back to being a regular, non-ranked event without the added drama of affecting Premier League spots.
We might see a return to the norm with one of the regular faces winning, especially since Luke Littler isn't competing because he's not in the top 24. But Daryl Gurney, ranked 26th, got lucky this year. He's in because Gerwyn Price pulled out last minute, and Jose de Sousa couldn't make it. Gurney gets to skip the first round and dive straight into the second, which must have Clayton wondering why he's not getting a similar deal. But, that's a debate for another day.
I'm going to take a look at each half of the draw before I pick who I think will come out on top...
CAZOO MASTERS - TOP HALF DRAW
- (1) Luke Humphries v Stephen Bunting/Ross Smith
- (8) Peter Wright v Jonny Clayton/Krzysztof Ratajski
- (4) Nathan Aspinall v Dirk van Duijvenbode/Ryan Searle
- Daryl Gurney* v Joe Cullen/Josh Rock
Odds to win quarter one:Humphries 8/13Wright 5/1Bunting 7/1Clayton 17/2Smith 12/1Ratajski 16/1
Odds to win quarter two:
Aspinall 13/8Cullen 9/2Searle 4/1Rock 4/1Van Duijvenbode 12/1Gurney 16/1
It's hard to bet against Luke Humphries in his part of the draw, even though his first big challenge could come right off the bat against either Stephen Bunting or Ross Smith. Both of these guys ended their season on a high note, with Smith pulling off some impressive numbers in his last match and Bunting, despite the hype, not quite delivering against MVG. The real test of sharpness for any player coming off a break will be their first match back, and that's what makes calling the winners tough, especially in a short format like best-of-11 legs.
Humphries, with his track record of winning three out of four majors before his stellar performance at Ally Pally, should be in good shape to handle whatever comes his way, assuming he plays at the level we've come to expect from him.
Switching gears to the second quarter, I've got my eye on Ryan Searle at an attractive 7/1 odds. He didn't shine at the World Championship, but his performance leading up to it was solid, with averages around 100. He's up against Dirk van Duijvenbode first, who's been struggling with shoulder issues, shown by his lower averages recently. Then, it's potentially Nathan Aspinall, who's admitted that taking a break from the tour was a mistake given his recent slump in major performances.
Searle could have a real shot if he gets past them, with his next match against either Joe Cullen, Josh Rock, or Daryl Gurney. Even though Cullen knocked him out of the World Championship, Searle's form suggests he could be a tough opponent for any of these three.
CAZOO MASTERS - BOTTOM HALF
- (2) Michael van Gerwen v Chris Dobey/Andrew Gilding
- (7) Danny Noppert v Dave Chisnall/Martin Schindler
- (3) Michael Smith v Dimitri Van den Bergh/James Wade
- (6) Rob Cross v Damon Heta/Gabriel Clemens
Odds to win quarter three:
Michael Van Gerwen 8/11Noppert 9/2Dobey 6/1Chisnall 6/1Schindler 16/1Gilding 18/1
Odds to win quarter four:Smith 6/4Cross 7/4Heta 15/2Wade 8/1Van Den Bergh 11/1Clemens 12/1
Michael van Gerwen made a strong comeback after his surprising exit from the World Championship, making it to two World Series finals and winning one. Yet, his inconsistent performances, like scoring below his usual standard in one of those finals, make it tricky to back him with full confidence. His recent performances haven't been the kind of dominant displays we're used to seeing from him, not setting the stage alight in the Premier League either.
Chris Dobey, on the other hand, has been on fire since the World Championship, leading Rob Cross 4-0 in their quarter-final match. With his ability to deliver high-quality darts consistently, he's a strong contender for more titles this season. Missing out on the Premier League might have been a disappointment for Dobey, but it also gives him a chip on his shoulder and a point to prove, especially against someone like MVG.
If Dobey gets past MVG, the path could lead him to a showdown with Danny Noppert or Dave Chisnall. Given his form, Dobey would likely be the favorite against either.
Rob Cross, also known as Voltage, seems set to advance in his quarter, with his main competition potentially being Michael Smith. However, Smith's recent form has been a bit of a question mark, which might not pose as big a challenge for Cross. Both Van den Bergh and Wade, potential opponents for Smith, didn't impress at the Ally Pally, suggesting Cross might have a smoother path than expected.
The tournament is shaping up to be an exciting one, with several players having strong claims but also carrying question marks over their form. It'll be interesting to see who can rise to the occasion and capture the title.
Cazoo Masters Title Winner TipMichael Smith is the one to beat after his BETMGM Premier League of darts performance. If he plays anywhere near that standard this should be a stroll to the final stages of the tournament.
Tournament Winner Tip Odds
Michael Smith - 8/1
Danger
Rob Cross - 8/1
Value
Nathan Aspinall - 14/1