World Championship: day two betting predictions, free darts tips, where to watch

Best bets and analysis for day two of the William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

When to watch

Sky Sports Darts, midday Wednesday

Best bets

Karel Sedlacek +1.5 v Ryan Joyce
2pts 4-5 Hills

David Evans to beat Ross Smith
1pt 11-8 bet365

Niels Zonneveld more 180s v Willie O'Connor
2pts 20-21 bet365

Over 5.5 180s in Callan Rydz v James Bailey
1pt 11-10 bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power

Preview

The Queen is dead, long live the Queen. Twelve months after Fallon Sherrock was crowned Queen of Alexandra Palace the honour of flying the flag for the ladies at the William Hill World Darts Championship falls to the grand dame of the oche, four-time women's world champ Lisa Ashton and the greatest feamale player we've seen.

Adam Hunt stands in her way in round one and is a 2-5 shot to prevail.

Ryan Joyce v Karel Sedlacek

Beginning proceedings are 2019 quarter-finalist Ryan Joyce and Czech star Karel Sedlacek.

They have met once on the floor this year – Sedlacek winning in a decider – and there may well be less between these two than the odds imply.

Royce has pedigree but isn't consistent. Sedlacek has reached four last-16s on the Pro Tour this year, averaging 92 overall, and rounded off his year by beating both Krzysztof Ratajski and Madars Razma at the Players Championship Finals.

Ross Smith v David Evans

David Evans also looks a fair price to win on his debut. He reached the quarter-finals of the BDO worlds in January (beating Richard Veenstra with a 95-plus average) and has gone on to win on the Challenge Tour.

That earned him a shot at the Winter Series where scalps included Ricky Evans and Joe Cullen.

Smith is a good player and presumably no longer scarred by his last appearance at the Palace when he won just two legs against Daryl Gurney. This could be a belter but the outsider is the call.

Willie O'Connor v Niels Zonneveld

Niels Zonneveld's floor form hasn't been the best though the leftie did beat fellow southpaw James Wade at the Players Championship Finals.

Ireland's O'Connor ought to have the beating of the Dutchman though Zonneveld seems to have an obvious edge in hitting maximums. He averages a 180 every 3.74 legs compared to O'Connor's one every 5.6 legs. That's quite a difference.

Max Hopp v Gordon Mathers

Max Hopp won just 11 matches in 20 Pro Tour events in 2020, a year in which he spent lockdown fiddling with his technique and his equipment. The German played well at the International Open and reasonably at the World Cup but there's nothing about his game to suggest he's worth a bet at 3-10l.

Gordon Mathers topped the DPA rankings which is no mean feat and will be looking to go better than on his debut three years ago when he was pipped in a final leg by Seigo Asada.

Callan Rydz v James Bailey

Callan Rydz is enough of a 180 machine to suggest the maximums line is too low at 5.5.

Rydz hit four 180s in each of his best-of-five tussles last year – against Steve Lennon and Danny Noppert – and is averaging one every 3.25 legs on tour.

He may not need much help from James Bailey, who is a far better arrowsmith than when winning only four legs getting battered by Lennon two years ago. The man they call The Rock was anything but that day but the absence of any fans will help.

Adam Hunt v Lisa Ashton

Lisa Ashton will be hoping to repeat the feats of Fallon Sherrock 12 months ago and certainly won't fear Adam Hunt, a player she has beaten twice on tour this year.

She'd have loved a crowd to put the Geordie on edge but the four-time women's world champ and best dartiste to toe the oche is certainly good enough to be able to make a game of it. Hunt is no value at 2-5.

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