Despite being the number one ranked player in the world, Gerwyn Price is not the bookies’ favourite to win the World Darts Championship.
Price began his 2023 campaign against Luke Woodhouse on Monday night, fighting back after losing to the first set to secure a comfortable 3-1 victory, even if the performance fell short of The Iceman's high standards.
Price, who won the Ally Pally crown behind closed doors two years ago, has had an up and down year blighted by injury and inconsistent form. As a result, Michael van Gerwen, the winner of four majors this year, is the runaway favourite.
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World number four Michael Smith is also strongly fancied, having ended his long wait for a major title at the Grand Slam last month. According to Ladbrokes, Van Gerwen is 12/5 to win the title, with Smith at 5/1, Price 6/1 and defending champion Peter Wright 9/1.
Asked if he was happy not to have been widely tipped to win the tournament after his win over Woodhouse, Price brought Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle into the conversation.
“Yeah, when Wayne Mardle tips some people because whoever he tips, loses. If it’s him you’re on about, happy days,” he quipped.
Mardle, like many, is backing Van Gerwen to land his fourth world title. Writing ahead of the tournament, he said: “There's loads of them who have a chance, but I just feel that Van Gerwen is the most reliable.
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“He's playing the best darts in the world right now and I really think he can bag number four at Alexandra Palace.
“I'm backing him to win the Worlds after the way he performed at the Matchplay in Blackpool. He wasn't playing brilliantly but he found a way to win and he beat the main man in the final – Gerwyn Price. He was better than anyone at the Grand Prix and he was better than anyone at the Players Championship.
“I like the way he is talking because he's saying 'I'm the best' and 'this is not about them, it's all about me'. He's got that swagger back.”
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