World Grand Prix 2024: Thursday predictions and best bets

The World Grand Prix action continues on Thursday evening as eight more players do battle for a quarter-final spot in Leicester.

Our man Matt Hill (@Matt_Hill93) is on hand with another comprehensive preview of tonight’s fixtures to hopefully steer you in the direction of a few winners. 

WIth Michael van Gerwen, Damon Heta, Michael Smith, Peter Wright and Chris Dobey having all exited the bottom half of this year’s draw in round one, opportunity knocks for the eight men remaining.

Gary Anderson, arguably the most in-form player in planet darts, is the bookies’ favourite to take advantage but given the Flying Scotsman is approaching four years since his last major final appearance, such an outcome is far from an inevitability.

If not Anderson, then who? Again, bookies are sticking to what they know by making Gerwyn Price second-favourite from this half but the Iceman was far from convincing in round one.

Dave Chisnall is in fine nick but his dire major record is common knowledge. So in theory, all eight players should fancy their chances of making the final to varying degrees.

Such circumstances can bring the best — and worst — out of players. It’s one thing gaining an opportunity and another being composed enough to take it.

I expect this evening’s matches will teach us a lot about certain individuals’ mindsets when presented with an unexpected chance at glory.

World Grand Prix darts predictions — Thursday, October 10

Gary Anderson vs Mike De Decker

As stated, Anderson is now widely expected to come through this half of the draw having dodged two match darts against Smith in his opener.

I stated in my tournament preview that Ando still has questions to answer over whether he can replicate his incredible recent Pro Tour form on the stage again and he’s still not completely sold me yet — though there were some moments of real class in his opener.

De Decker is another favourite of mine. The Belgian oozes class with his technique and like his opponent, ranks inside the PDC’s top five 180 hitters.

However, I’ve always had concerns over his composure in the big moments. A first Pro Tour win earlier this year suggests he’s improving in that regard and so did his dramatic defeat of Heta on Tuesday night.

Interestingly, Anderson name-dropped De Decker recently as one of the most exciting talents around and I do think the fast pace of these two makes a high-quality affair likely.

A couple of sportsbooks offer a quirky little market for a player to hit a 180 in every set and given I’m expecting this to be an electric contest, a small wager on both appeals — Anderson at 7/2 and De Decker at 3/1.

Just in case, I’ll also have a small dabble on SkyBet’s 9/1 quote of both players to hit a maxi in each set too.

Prediction: Anderson 3-1 De Decker

Gerwyn Price vs James Wade

Regular readers and viewers will be aware of my pre-tournament flutter on Wade at 80/1 (boosted to 100/1 with Ladbrokes), so I do already have a vested interest in this contest.

That said, I still think the Machine makes appeal at the prices given what we’ve seen from both players in round one — but also across the last few months.

Price can be added to the list of leading names who survived match darts in round one. Noppert pulled low on tops to complete a 2-1 victory having worked his way back into things from a set and two legs down, in a game where neither player looked in great nick.

Meanwhile, Wade had to show his class and battling qualities to come back from a set down against Wright but never looked overly flustered at any point, which reaffirms the positive state of mind he is currently in.

The veteran won the last meeting with his good mate on the Euro Tour only last month, turning around a 4-2 deficit to win 6-4 with 140 and 121 checkouts thrown in for good measure.

You probably can tell I give Wade a good chance of coming through this one and couldn’t put anyone off the 5/4 quotes available.

Prediction: Price 1-3 Wade

Daryl Gurney vs Joe Cullen

Hands up, I expected to be writing about a Michael van Gerwen vs Chris Dobey rematch in this slot but it seems Gurney and Cullen didn’t read the script.

Both players should enter this one with their tails off having pulled off unexpected and deserved victories over their well-fancied round one opponents, earning what looks like a winnable second round tie for both parties.

Gurney has had the better year of the pair, consistently making the latter stages of Pro Tour events. He’s also enjoyed four quarter-final runs and one semi-final run on the stage, making for an efficient season in terms of prize money.

Cullen, meanwhile, has been floundering for the most part of 2024 but bullishly declared that “form goes out the window here” after dumping out his good pal Dobey — hinting he has managed to hit the mental reset button.

Interestingly, Cullen has an overwhelmingly positive head-to-head record against tonight's opponent, winning 16 of the pair’s 21 historical meetings.

Gurney has a similar freakishly bad record against Ryan Searle and that undoubtedly seems to bother him in such games, so you wonder if that will be on Superchin’s mind tonight.

Cullen should have his tail up after an excellent last set and a half against Dobey and I do think the 13/10 on offer for the upset is worth a tickle in what, once again, should be a close-run thing.

Prediction: Gurney 2-3 Cullen

Dave Chisnall vs Dimitri Van den Bergh

Chisnall has been one of 2024’s standout performers, with four titles already in the bag to follow up the five he scooped last year.

A routine 2-0 first-round win over Cammy Menzies, where not a single leg was dropped, will have filled his many supporters with confidence that a deep run awaits in Leicester — and the draw has certainly opened up for the St Helens

star.

But this will be no cakewalk against two-time major winner Van den Bergh, who shook off some poor form coming into this tournament to dismiss an impressive Luke Woodhouse 2-1 in a high-quality opening clash.

Clearly, the Belgian saves his best for the biggest stages and should give Chizzy a much sterner examination of his championship credentials despite being a 6/4 outsider.

With the 180s line pitched at a lofty 8.5, the bookies are expecting a score-fest and I would tend to agree, though it is the sets line which appeals most to me.

Both of these men are prone to peaks and troughs at the best of times, while their four previous major clashes (two wins apiece) have all been close-run, deep contests.

Over 4.5 sets at 15/8 looks one to have on side in what could be a titanic tussle.

Prediction: Chisnall 3-2 Van den Bergh

Matt Hill's World Grand Prix betting tips — Thursday, October 10

Mike De Decker to hit a 180 in every set - 3/1 (Bet365)

Gary Anderson to hit a 180 in every set - 7/2 (Betfair)

Anderson and De Decker to hit a 180 in every set - 9/1 (SkyBet)

James Wade to beat Gerwyn Price - 5/4 (Ladbrokes)

Joe Cullen to beat Daryl Gurney - 13/10 (Bet365)

Chisnall vs Van den Bergh over 4.5 sets - 15/8 (Betfair)