A LOT of people are saying that this has been a championship that we will never forget for a lot of reasons. We haven’t had any fans, we have seen 16 matches go to a a last leg decider, and we are on the cusp of seeing either Scotland or Wales crown their best ever player.
The fact that a 9-darter hasn’t even made the major headlines is testament to how much drama and controversy we have had, and we haven’t even spoken about the final yet.
It seems like a long time ago since the first 180 was hit, and we have had 854 so far in this event. If we get 27 in the final, it will be a new World Championship record. We have had six 170 checkouts, yes SIX!! The overall tournament average of 93.24 is better than last year too.
I think it is hard to say that this hasn’t been one of the greatest events held at Alexandra Palace.
We all thought that Gerwyn Price had a huge opportunity to make this final and would play MVG, but now that we have to see him up against Gary Anderson, we are all a bit tantalised at the prospect of a quality, drama ridden contest.
Gerwyn Price v Gary Anderson
First things first, social media is going to be very tribal going into this. Anderson has his followers and they are adamant that it is Gary’s destiny to become the first three time Scottish champion of the world. In doing so, he would no longer sit alongside the cult hero that is John Thomas Wilson, and be atop the all-time Scottish standings on his own. For me, Gary IS the greatest player from North of the border, and has been in a multitude of different moods in this season ending championship so far.
He has been part of the most controversial game against Mensur Suljovic, where he won six straight legs to come out on top by four sets to three. He has been a lot more relaxed since and has been looking better than any point this season. That doesn’t mean he looks infallible though, because he has got away with a few sets, and he may not have that luxury with Price.
Gerwyn making his first World Championship final isn’t a surprise, and we are wondering why it’s taken so long, but now he is here, there is so much on the line..
Since Price came into PDC darts, he has been the first Welsh player to do a lot of things. The first to win a major, break a million pound mark on the order of merit, win the World Cup, Grand Prix and many other titles, and it now has to be said, if he wins this game he will have to be considered the best Welsh player of them all, based on what he has won.
It is a very hard game to call, and I have gone back and forth on where I stand. On one hand, I see the statistics and see a Price win. He has a better tournament average, checkout percentage and has been tested to the point of him feeling battle hardened. Then, I think about Gary and how he peaks for challenges like this. The reason this is such a good final ISN’T because they don’t get along, it is because they are both very capable of winning it.
I think Gary has the edge being a two time winner but it could be as close as 2015 when he won 7-6 against Phil Taylor. Gary to win by a repeat scoreline today is 7/1, whilst Price to edge it 7-6 is 13/2.
The head to head record is 8-7 in favour of the Scotsman, and reluctantly I think this will be won by him by the merest of margins and deny Price the World number one spot in the process too. However, I feel it will be an accolade that Price will take later in 2021.
Tip – The odds are good on Gary winning – odds 21/20.
The race for the most 180’s could be key and I think Price might win that one regardless of the result – odds 6/5.
As for total 180’s, the bet is under 27.5 which wouldn’t give us the event record – odds 3/4
