Betfred World Matchplay predictions and winner odds: Heta eyes Blackpool bounty

PDC darts tips, best bets and player analysis for the 2022 Betfred World Matchplay at Winter Gardens, Blackpool.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Action, from 7pm Saturday

Best bets

Damon Heta
1pt each-way 25-1 Coral, Ladbrokes, Hills

Danny Noppert
1pt each-way 25-1 Betfred, Hills

Dave Chisnall to win third quarter
1pt 6-1 Boyles

Betfred World Matchplay preview

The heat will be well and truly on the finest darters in the land over the coming days as sizzling Blackpool hosts the most wide-open running of the Betfred World Matchplay in its long history.

It'll be searing in the Winter Gardens, where Peter Wright kept his cool 12 months ago to lift the Phil Taylor Trophy, and Snakebite kicks off his defence on Saturday night against debutant Madars Razma.

By his own admission the world number one admits he's been "rubbish" throughout much of 2022, although he's adamant he's in the best possible shape to land odds of 8-1.

But he's certainly not the only player with a squiggle by his name. Gerwyn Price is also off colour at the moment while Michael van Gerwen makes a competitive return to action after undergoing wrist surgery just a few weeks ago.

The upshot is that it's 6-1 the field going into the PDC's second oldest major, a summer special where punters can strike it lucky on the Golden Mile by looking for a lively outsider or two.

And two who definitely should stand to attention are Damon Heta and Danny Noppert.

Heta is in the top half of the draw, unseeded, but in really good form. He faces a real test against Premier League finalist Joe Cullen in round one but there are no easy draws in this exclusive field.

The Australian number one is the top-ranked qualifier and started the year superbly, reaching a couple of Pro Tour finals, winning one. He then took care of both Van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton at the UK Open in March before succumbing to Noppert in the last eight, the Dutchman going on to take the title.

He beat Clayton again when reaching the semis of the German Grand Prix, one of two European Tour semi-final appearances this year.

And he trumped all that last month when he partnered Simon Whitlock to World Cup glory, beating Price and Clayton in their final success over the Welsh.

Noppert, a major winner this year after prevailing in the UK Open, hasn't backed off, reaching a pair of European Tour finals and only last week winning Players Championship 19 on the floor in Barnsley.

He's in the softer bottom half where he should be content to take on Brendan Dolan and then, if successful, either Gary Anderson or Daryl Gurney in round two.

In quarter betting, Dave Chisnall looks a fair punt at 6-1 to boss a section of the draw where Price is the favourite.

Gezzy will have no love in Blackpool, where the crowd will be gunning for a man who has yet to make a semi in six visits.

We know Chizzy can be anything but having made a quarter-final and a semi-final on the Pro Tour in the last couple of weeks he's in decent form.

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