BDO Outright

We've done plenty of digging around to try to get our own ratings on all the players participating this year. Data is a big thin on the ground but we think we've got about as much as anyone reasonably can without resorting to 3rd World sweatshops so here we go.

In the Outright, it is just so hard to look past Glen Durrant. He is averaging a class above the rest at this level. Our data has returned him with an average on the BDO of around 97.5 - his next nearest is Adam Smith-Neale from a limited data-set of 94.7 (taken largely from a single tournament he won), and then we are down to 92.2, with no fewer than 15 participants averaging between 92 and 87.

He's a county mile ahead, and should have this tournament by the short and curlies if he gets through the lottery of the early rounds.

In the 1st Quarter, I definitely give Scott Waites a shout of reaching the semi-finals at the expense of Mark McGeeney. He lost in the QF of the World Masters in October to Jim Williams, but averaged over 100 in two of this three matches, and our data has him averaging over 90 this year in the sample matches we have. He's 14/5 to win Quarter 1 with BlackType, which looks too long, and given he won't meet Glen Durrant until the final, he's worth an e/w bet as well.

In the 2nd Quarter, I'm not as convinced as the general market is in Michael Unterbuchner. A great player for sure, but in a tight section 6/4 looks too short on him reaching the semis. Id rather be with Wayne Warren or Wesley Harms. The latter has beaten Unterbuchner in each of their meetings over the past 14 months and has won the England Classic, and Italian Masters in the past three months. Harms is the pick here at 11/4.

For the 3rd part, Scott Mitchell is a justified favourite at 15/8 - he has shared six meetins with Dave Parletti (3 this year) but results overall have been kinder for Scott, and there isn't a great deal on show in that section - aside from perhaps Jim Williams.

In the final section, it's unfortunate that Adam Smith-Neale broke his leg in November, as we really fancied him to give a right old go at this tournament after returning from the PDC development tour. He meets Glen Durrant in the first round proper if he wins his pre-lim and he's reporting that practice is going well. I know i'm going to regret this, but I can't resist a tiny bet on him at 40/1 e/w on the off-chance he is able to repeat his form from the World Masters - where he was sensational.

2pts Glen Durrant to win at 11/10 (General)

0.25pts e/w Adam Smith-Neale e/w at 50/1 (Betfred 1/2 1,2)

0.5pts e/w Scott Waites at 22/1 (Betway 1/2 1,2)

1pt Scott Waites to win Q1 at 14/5 (Blacktype)

1pt Wesley Harms to win Q2 at 11/4 (General)

1pt Scott Mitchell to win Q3 at 15/8 (General)

#Darts