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World Grand Prix key questions
- Updated: October 1, 2016
Will we see shock results? Who’s the dark horse? Sky Sports asked the usual suspects – plus two special guests – to answer our World Grand Prix questions.
Who does the format suit?
Wayne Mardle: You really need to be a very accomplished double hitter to win the event. When you look down through history, the likes of Colin Lloyd, who was fantastic on his day, Phil Taylor, James Wade. It’s not a coincidence. The one for me that says it all – is Robert Thornton last year. In my opinion, Robert Thornton’s best chance to win a major since 2012, was always going to be the World Grand Prix. He loves double top and is very good on double top.
Dave Clark: The top double hitters are the names to look out for. Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, James Wade and Gary Anderson are all in with a major shout. It’s great to see 32 players, rather than these tournaments where there is just the top eight in the world.
You need massive mental strength when you’re starting on a double, because your dreams can be shattered in a leg. If you don’t get off in the first three darts, then the pressure mounts on you. It’s a fantastic format.
Adrian Lewis: It’s a tournament you can’t really practice for. Being a rhythm player as well, it’s hard. You start on double top, then get down to treble 20. It’s hard to get into a rhythm. It suits a more mechanical player.
Rod Studd: The format makes it different and unpredictable. Because of the format, someone’s engine can stall. I remember John Part played Adrian Lewis, who won the first set then went 2-0 up in the second set. Part came back and won.
In 2007, Andy Jenkins played Mark Dudbridge and it went to a last-leg shoot-out. Dudbridge took 10 darts to get away but …
