Betfred World Matchplay darts: Monday match previews, predictions & tips

TV: Sky Sports Action, 7pm Monday

Keegan Brown landed the PDC World Youth Championship in 2014 and it's fair to say that the Isle of Wight arrowsmith's crown has slipped somewhat since then. However, there have been signs that things are starting to come together for the Needle and he looks ready to tower over Jonny Clayton in Blackpool.

This is just the third time Brown has appeared at the Betfred World Matchplay and it hasn't been a happy hunting ground on his previous two visits.

Dave Chisnall put paid to Brown's chances on this stage in the first round last year and Chizzy once against dispatched the Needle in the second-round in 2015. However, Brown managed a 97 average in a 10-7 win over Robert Thornton on his first visit to the Winter Gardens and his game seems to be in far better shape than this time last year.

There haven't been any deep runs in major tournaments, but Brown has twice beaten Michael van Gerwen on the European Tour this term, and the fact that he has qualified for this event shows that his game is in decent nick.

Clayton had been producing some excellent darts on the floor but it's becoming more of a struggle for the Welshman and it's not as if he's ever been able to throw his best darts on a consistent basis when on the TV stage.

The Ferret was dumped out in the first round on his debut in this event last year and the same fate looks likely to await himg.

Daryl Gurney isn't the cheeriest of chuckers and he could be set for more upset when he takes on Ricky Evans.

Gurney performed well to reach the semi-finals of the Premier League in May but there's been little progress in floor or World Series events since then and while the Derry darter is likely to up his game for a major event, success may not come as easily as the layers expect.

Rapid Ricky has finally developed some consistency and the slight slowing of his action seems to have helped his cause.

Hills rate Evans a 19-10 shot and that looks to underrate the chances of him freezing out Gurney at the Winter Gardens.

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