PDC World Championship predictions, darts betting tips, preview & TV details

Betting preview and free tips for the final of the William Hill World Darts Championship on Sunday at Alexandra Palace, London.

When to watch

Live on Sky Sports Main Event and Arena, 7.30pm Sunday

Already advised by Steve Davies

Gerwyn Price to win outright
2pts 11-2 December 15

Best bets

Gerwyn Price -1.5 sets
3pts 23-20 Coral, Ladbrokes

Gerwyn Price to win 7-3
1pt 17-2 Betfred

Preview

There were 96 players in the William Hill World Darts Championship on December 15, but less than three weeks later, only two remain - Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson will do battle for the famous Sid Waddell Trophy at Alexandra Palace on Sunday evening.

Price, tipped at 11-2 on tournament-eve by Racing Post's Steve Davies, is bidding to become world champion for the first time, while Anderson, a 33-1 chance ante-post as he struggled for fitness and form, is looking to complete a hat-trick of titles, having triumphed in 2015 and 2016. Live coverage starts at 7.30pm on Sky Sports, with the finalists set to toe the oche at 7.45pm.

Gerwyn Price v Gary Anderson

Experience. That is the one advantage Gary Anderson has over Gerwyn Price going into the denouement of the William Hill World Championship. This is Anderson's fifth final, while Price has made the showpiece occasion for the first time.

Anderson lost his first final 7-5 to Adrian Lewis in 2011, he edged Phil Taylor 7-6 in 2015, then beat Lewis 7-5 for a successful title defence. Michael van Gerwen denied Anderson the hat-trick with a 7-3 success in 2017.

The Flying Scotsman has seen it all before, but will experience be enough to get him over the line in front tonight? Probably not. Price, 4-5 for glory, seems the more likely champion and looks especially good value giving up 1.5 sets on the handicap at 23-20. A 7-5 or better triumph should be within his grasp, and 7-3 is the most appealing scoreline of all at a juicy 17-2.

Anderson has been Mr Grumpy in this championship ever since Mensur Suljovic upset him with what Anderson hates being referred to as "gamesmanship". Having edged past Suljovic in round three, life has got easier for Anderson. Two talented but inexperienced opponents - Devon Petersen and Dirk van Duijvenbode - did not put up much of a fight in his next matches. Then Dave Chisnall froze in the semis, failing to get anywhere near his Van Gerwen-conquering form, allowing Anderson to cruise through to the final.

Nobody since Suljovic has attempted to ruffle Anderson's fragile feathers. Petersen and Van Duijvenbode showed the Scot too much respect, while the genial Chisnall, friendly with Anderson away from the oche, was always going to keep their meeting full of pleasantries.

Anderson has been like a parrot in interviews, relentlessly asserting "I just want to play darts", but Price just wants the trophy and seems set to do anything in his power to get it. If that means winding up a temperamental opponent to the extent that it swings the match his way, so be it.

Price and his aggressive, loud, exuberant celebrations grate at Anderson's 50-year-old bones - and the moody Scot mentally imploded in the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts final. Anderson ended up laying hands on Price in the closing stages of that highly controversial Wolverhampton clash - and this is the first time they have met in a final since.

Over a possible 13 sets of World Championship action against the feisty, fighting-fit Price, Anderson will do well to stay calm and concentrate on his darts.

Price's performances in this tournament have been 'name on the trophy' stuff. Two of his victories have been through final-leg deciders, digging deep, rarely finding top gear. It has been a similar campaign to that of Peter Wright last year. Wright scrapped through his first three matches, before raising his game when it mattered most, claiming a maiden World title. Price started this event slowly but appears to be peaking at the right time.

The musclebound 35-year-old went from 4-3 down to a 6-4 victory in the semi-finals against Stephen Bunting, winning nine of 11 legs in an awesome late burst. The Cardiff man nailed eight ton-plus checkouts - and that finishing prowess could be key to winning the final.

Price will become world number one if he beats Anderson, pocketing a £500,000 cheque in the process. There is nothing for Price to fret about in the head-to-head history - Anderson leads 8-7, but Price has won five of the last seven meetings, including the last two - a pair of convincing victories in the Premier League.

Expect Anderson to get some sets on the board early, before wilting as the length and intensity of the assignment hurts him, leaving Price to gallop noisily to the winning post. Three of the last four World Championship finals have ended 7-3.

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