World Matchplay darts: Day one predictions, odds, betting tips, accas, order of play & TV times

• World Matchplay draw, schedule & TV guide
• Player-by-player World Matchplay guide
• Click here for Chris Hammer's betting tips
• Follow on Twitter

The wait ends tonight as the second biggest major in darts gets under way at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, with defending champion Gary Anderson in action against Danny Noppert.

Here, I'll run through this evening's four games and throw in some predictions and best bets.

World Matchplay: Saturday July 20

Click on the odds for more match markets

• TV Coverage: Sky Sports (1900 BST)
• First Round: Best of 19 legs

Nathan Aspinall () v Mervyn King ()

Head-to-head: N/A
2019 Meetings: N/A
PDC Titles in 2019: 2-0
Career PDC Titles: 3-8

Nathan Aspinall will be widely fancied to get through this one following his incredible exploits on the televised stage over the past six months - first reaching the World Championship semi-finals on his debut then winning the UK Open and the recent US Darts Masters as he made his World Series bow.

Nothing seems to faze the Stockport man and he certainly lit up Las Vegas with a string of 100+ averages to show he's ready for another serious crack at a big major prize.

The Asp should get through this opener but that's not to underestimate Mervyn King who has beaten the likes of James Wade, Daryl Gurney, Corey Cadby en route to a couple of European Tour quarter-finals while he ventured to the semis of a Players Championship tournament and also, most notably, shocked Michael van Gerwen in the UK Open.

If he can make this relatively close then it might be worth looking at Sky Bet's Player Performance markets where you can back Aspinall to win, score over 3.5 180s and have a checkout of over 96.5.

Also I quite like the bolder 4/1 of there being over 16.5 legs, a high checkout of over 127.5 and more than 7.5 total 180s.

Prediction: 10-7

Gerwyn Price () v Stephen Bunting ()

Head-to-head: 3-2
2019 Meetings: 1-0
PDC Titles in 2019: 2-0
Career PDC Titles: 6-2

The box office star that is Gerwyn Price has been making more headlines than most in 2019 but predominantly for the right reasons and will be confident of going far in Blackpool.

Love him or hate him, the controversial Grand Slam of Darts champion has been involved in some cracking games on the televised stage during his encouraging Premier League campaign and the UK Open while he's also won back-to-back Players Championship titles away from the crowds.

In total he's reached six semi-finals, including the recent US Darts Masters, and four quarters this season as well as hitting a nine-darter so expect him to get off to a winning start against a player he's beaten three times in a row.

No player in this field of the highest calibre is without hope and Stephen Bunting did go close to his first European Tour title last month when reaching the Czech Open final, only to lose to Jamie Hughes.

I'm going to go for over 16.5 legs in this one at 11/10.

Prediction: 10-7

Gary Anderson () v Danny Noppert ()

Head-to-head: 1-1
2019 Meetings: 0-0
PDC Titles in 2019: 0-0
Career PDC Titles: 44-1

Gary Anderson may well be hot favourite to win this clash as he bids to make a winning start to his World Matchplay title defence but a shock could be on the cards.

The Flying Scotsman has struggled for consistency since making his return from injury this season and while he did triumph alongside Peter Wright in the World Cup of Darts for the first time last month, those games are over a short format and it's questionable whether he'll be able to go far in a tournament like this.

Encouragingly he did reach a Players Championship semi-final the other day - albeit not beating anyone in this field before losing to Wright in the semis - but he looked vulnerable when losing to world number 181 Nico Kurz at the German Darts Masters last week and was also mediocre during defeat against Gerwyn Price in Las Vegas.

Danny Noppert is a talented player who has enjoyed some pretty good runs this season and will be relishing the chance to take on one of the game's greatest ever legends on TV knowing this a prime opportunity to beat him.

This is the first televised meeting between the pair since Gary Anderson edged a Grand Slam of Darts classic 10-9 way back in 2016 and it could well be similarly that close again.

Noppert at 13/5 seems tempting enough but if you want a bolder bet how about the Dutchman winning, scoring over 3.5 180s and having a checkout over 82.5 at 4/1?

Prediction: 8-10

Rob Cross () v Chris Dobey ()

Head-to-head: 3-1
2019 Meetings: 1-0
PDC Titles in 2019: 0-0
Career PDC Titles: 7-0

Last but certainly not least is this potential thriller as Chris Dobey looks to pull off an upset against Rob Cross.

The Northumberland ace may not have won a title yet but he kick started his career again with a superb run at the World Championship, where he gave Gary Anderson an almighty scare in one of the matches of the tournament, and since then he reached his first European Tour final, losing to Dave Chisnall, and also impressed as the first of this season's Premier League Contenders.

Hollywood can definitely give anyone a game but he'll need to reverse a three-game losing streak against Voltage, who beat him most recently at the German Open, if he's to get through to round two.

Cross has statistically been one of the standout performers this season in terms of averages and other metrics but not when it comes to titles won, having not managed to pick up any since last August.

He seems to have few problems negotiating early rounds of tournaments - be it on the stage or the floor - but it's when it comes to the crunch that he falters.

I think he'll win this one but it'll be lose so I like the 3/1 on there being over 16.5 legs, a high checkout of over 127.5 and over 8.5 180s.

Prediction: 10-7

Saturday's darts accas

• Aspinall, Price, Noppert & Cross at 7/1
• Aspinall (-2.5 legs), Price (-2.5 legs) & Cross (-2.5 legs) at 4.5/1

Schedule for Sunday July 21

Afternoon Session (1300 BST)
First Round (best of 19 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

• Darren Webster v Krzysztof Ratajski
• Dave Chisnall v Max Hopp
• Ian White v Joe Cullen
• Michael Smith v Jamie Hughes

Evening Session (1900 BST)
First Round (best of 19 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

• James Wade v Jeffrey de Zwaan
• Mensur Suljovic v Jermaine Wattimena
• Michael van Gerwen v Steve Beaton
• Adrian Lewis v Glen Durrant

Full World Championship draw and schedule

Related Darts Content

• 2019 Premier League darts results
• 2019 PDC event calendar & results
• 2018 PDC event calendar & results
• 2018 Premier League darts results