Monday's Betfred World Matchplay first-round predictions & darts betting tips

Free darts tips, best bets and analysis for the first-round of the Betfred World Matchplay from the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Arena, 7pm Monday

Best bets

Mervyn King to beat Nathan Aspinall
1pt 13-10 Coral, Ladbrokes
Damon Heta to beat Michael van Gerwen
1pt 11-4 bet365

First-round preview

The Betfred World Matchplay is a superb event and this year's draw promises to deliver some superb best-of-19 leg first-round action.

Meryvn King shows no signs of regression and the Ipswich man can account for Nathan Aspinall. King made the final of the Masters earlier this year and that came after an excellent effort to finish second best in the Players Championship Finals last term.

Aspinall hasn't been great on the floor this campaign and he looks to have been priced on reputation rather than current performance levels. The Asp is down in 25th on the Pro Tour figures this term and there wasn't much to shout about in the recent Super Series events.

In terms of three-dart averages Michael van Gerwen is the fourth-best performer on the Pro Tour this term, while his opening-round opponent Damon Heta is just five spots below MVG in ninth.

Of course, the Green Machine is the big-stage performer, but the Dutchman has been beaten by Jonny Clayton twice, Luke Humphries and Dave Chisnall in the four televised tournaments this year and he has lacked consistency throughout.

Heta is as big as 11-4 and he looks worth backing to turn the heat up on MVG.

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