Pic 1;pdc.tv: Michael van Gerwen defeated Raymond van Barneveld in last years final.
Following his World Championship disappointment Michael van Gerwen is willing to kick off the new season with a bang at the Unibet Masters at Arena MK. 16 of the PDC’s finest will return to the big televised stage with an overall £200,000 prize fund. Michael van Gerwen will want to put his World Championship disappointment behind him as he faces a former World Champion Stephen Bunting in the last match of the opening night.
‘The Bullet’ has had a disappointing 2015 by his high standards only rising one place in the rankings and that was only because Simon Whitlock lost in the first round at Ally Pally. However the St. Helens ace you would feel will want to prove the doubters that he is still the fuss that was attracted by his shock move to the PDC circuit in 2014. He will have it tough, very tough indeed as he faces the World number 1 and defending champion. ‘MVG’ was in red hot form in 2015 and if he can keep his incredibly high standards up this weekend he will be hard to stop to say the least.
Another name that has lately been put in the fray for the big TV majors is Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright. The Livingstone flinger has been in top form in 2015 and nearly beat van Gerwen in the World Series final in Glasgow. Due to the performance of Adrian Lewis at the World Championships he has dropped down to World Number 5 but in the best nick that he has been in. He did in 2015 claim a Players Championship title as well losing in a Euro tour final to Kim Huybrechts and a UK Open final loss to Michael van Gerwen. He will be determined however by the fact that he has beaten all the big names on the televised stage and has the belief that whenever he appears on the stage that he has the game to beat any player.
However what about Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, I feel that the next 6 months are the most pivotal in Taylor’s career as for the first time in 25 years he is needing to prove himself as good enough. For the first time since 1994, Taylor went for a calendar year without a televised major, missing out on the Premier League play-offs, first round exits in the Players Championship and the World Grand Prix as well as losing in the Grand Slam of Darts final. But if we have learned one thing about ‘the power’ is that he loves to prove the doubters wrong, but one thing on most pundits lips is that could it be one bridge to far for the potter. Taylor will have the chance to avenge the World Championship defeat inflicted on him by Jelle Klaasen in the opening round.
How can I not talk about the new 2-time World Champion Gary Anderson, fresh from his exploits at Ally Pally as he regained the World crown will be the man to beat at Arena MK. However the ‘Flying Scotsman’ did have numerous miscounts throughout the Worlds and did admit that he would get his eyes tested and one thing we will wonder is that whether Gary will or will not wear his glasses.
Adrian Lewis by most people believe that he is getting close to his best and as the ‘most naturally gifted player in the world’ if Lewis is hot, it will take a lot to stop ‘Jackpot’. Following a narrow defeat to Gary Anderson in the final he looked good throughout the duration of the tournament defeating Jan Dekker and Mensur Suljovic to nil and sending Peter Wright to the cleaners as well. He had full command in his match against Raymond van Barneveld being 5-0 up, Barney rallied back, but Lewis prevailed 6-3.
Raymond van Barneveld is looking back to his best after Grand Slam and World semi-finals he was the story of the World Championships despite not winning it his victory over Michael van Gerwen just showed us why he is a 5-time World Champion. He does however have a tough start against young Michael Smith who has shown some real maturity and real resolve over the last 12 months to make the Premier League selection for the first time.
Kim Huybrechts will want to get over the disappointment of his non-selection for the Premier League, a euro tour winner and a finalist in a few Players Championship events in 2015, he will want to show his best in the new seasons first TV Major and if he plays at his best could be a dark horse for the title. ‘The Hurricane’ is a box office hit with his flamboyant celebrations and passionate play that sees him one of the most popular players in the game.
And finally, I have a look at some other players. Vincent van der Voort will want to avenge the World Championship thrashing inflicted to him by Gary Anderson on the opening night, Terry Jenkins will try again to win that illusive major against James Wade and Dave Chisnall and Robert Thornton will battle it out in the first match of the tournament.
He is the schedule, fixtures and draw:
Saturday afternoon:
Robert Thornton v Dave Chisnall
James Wade v Terry Jenkins
Peter Wright v Ian White
Michael Smith v Raymond van Barneveld
Saturday evening:
Adrian Lewis v Kim Huybrechts
Phil Taylor v Jelle Klaasen
Gary Anderson v Vincent van der Voort
Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting
Draw:
Lewis/Huybrechts v Wade/Jenkins
Anderson/van der Voort v Thornton/Chisnall
Taylor/Klaasen v Wright/White
van Gerwen/Bunting v Smith/van Barneveld
Henry Deacon Media 