Dave Chisnall and Garry Anderson should also progress without problem when the action at Alexandra Palace resumes after Christmas
6/5 – Ricky Evans to beat Jamie Caven
At any other point in the season Jamie Caven would be the clear pick to win this one, but there is a bit of momentum behind Ricky Evans at the moment.
‘Rapid’ won the PDPA qualifying event to reach the World Championship and then sprung a huge surprise in round one by beating 10th seed Simon Whitlock.
His whole game is built around a good rhythm as he throws so quickly and when he is in form he is a danger to anyone.
Caven is playing nicely himself and quietly turned in one of the performances of the first round with a 96.5 average in his 3-0 win over Rob Szabo.
‘Jabba’ is a solid player but rarely troubles the latter stages of big tournaments – this is his ninth PDC World Championship and he has never been beyond round two.
Caven is definitely the more consistent player, but Evans just has something about him when he is playing well. It is a 50-50 contest at this stage, making Evans the more tempting bet at 6/5.
1/6 – Dave Chisnall to beat Christian Kist
Both these men recorded impressive whitewash victories in round one against capable opponents, but it is Dave Chisnall we have to pick to oust Christian Kist in round two.
The Englishman was superb – averaging 99.3 – in beating Rowby-John Rodriguez. He was really pushed by the youngster and held his nerve throughout.
Even with that impressive average, ‘Chizzy’ was not at his best and can bang in plenty more maximums than the four he managed.
Kist, meanwhile, was against a strangely under-par Justin Pipe but still put in a competent display to quell ‘The Force’.
The former BDO world champion can trouble the best on his day but he has been too inconsistent since joining the PDC, where he is yet to reach a major quarter-final.
The two have met twice this year and Chisnall won them both, so you have to think that if Chizzy plays as he did in the first round then he will triumph.
If Kist is at his best then this could be an absolute cracker, but there is not enough reason to back the Dutchman to win.
1/7 – Gary Anderson to beat Daryl Gurney
Gary Anderson meant business in his first round win and he should have far too much for Daryl Gurney in round two.
The world champion was not up against much in Andy Boulton, but his average of 99.55 would have beaten most players and he whitewashed his opponent with no fuss and probably with some to spare.
Gurney was impressive in his first-round match, despatching the seeded Jamie Lewis 3-1 and averaging 94 in the process, and is playing well at the moment after his run to the semi-finals of the Players Championship finals in November.
He beat Anderson comfortably in that tournament with a tremendous performance so he will not be scared of the Scot.
In fact, Gurney has beaten Anderson in both of their two most recent meetings, each in 2015. This will be tempting a few in to back him, but that would be rash.
The Northern Irishman will be competitive and we can expect him to win a set or two, but knocking the champ out in a best-of-seven sets is a push.
It is hard to see Gurney pushing his average towards 100 over seven sets.
Anderson, in contrast, will be up around three-figures and that will be enough for him to win.
A £10 bet on the treble returns £29.33*.
*Odds and amounts correct at time of publication but subject to change. See site for latest.
