The odds of 29 for a 9-darter are worth considering

Michael van Gerwen is the most likely to have a perfect leg, at least according to the bookmakers.

9-darters are a theme before every World Championship, and this time is no different. At the last World Championship, the perfect leg only came in the final, but it was worth every minute of the wait. You may remember that Michael Smith shot a combination of 180-180-141 and Michael van Gerwen almost got a 9-darter in the same leg, but unlike the Englishman, the Dutchman missed a double 12.

Although the reigning world champion is coming into the Ally Pally to defend his title after a poor autumn, the bookmakers still believe that ‘Bully Boy’ has one of the best chances of winning the 9-darter. If Smith flips again, we could win back eleven times our stake.

Only Van Gerwen’s 9-darter has been given a single-digit multiplier, but the Dutchman can be given a nine. At the moment, MVG really does look the most likely to win, as he has two this autumn and even has a World Championship nine from 2012. Van Gerwen, by the way, is just one shot away from catching the legendary Phil Taylor, who has 11 in his career, in terms of televised 9-darters.

What’s interesting is that Van Gerwen has thrown both of his 9-darters this year against Luke Humphries, who has had an amazing year and is practically the favourite to win the World Championship title. The Englishman has yet to win a televised 9-darter, but with the form he has shown this autumn, it is possible that he could break the ice at the Ally Pally.

As for the outsiders, we would like to draw your attention to Luke Littler, a player of formidable talent who has already made the nine at the age of 14 (!). Obviously it would be a huge sensation if he had something like that as a rookie at the PDC World Championships, but nobody expected that when he hit two William Borland final set leg breaks in the final leg of a perfect game. These youngsters feel no fear and are capable of anything. Littler’s nine-eighth would pay twenty-nine times the money.

✅ Prediction #1: Van Gerwen shoots 9-darters @9.00

✅ Prediction #2: Littler shoots 9-darter @29.00

✅ Prediction #3: 9-darters over 1.5 @3.00

Betting Deadline: 15 December 20:15