Darts Players Championship's - Friday 12:45pm

The expanded finals see the field doubled in size as 64 players compete for £400,000 in prize money across six sessions, live on ITV4 in the UK.

Qualification is based on performances across the series of 20 Players Championship tournaments during 2016. It came to light over the weekend that Kyle Anderson has withdrawn from competing as he awaits the completion of his Visa renewal, Stoke's former World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton has come in as the 64th seed, meaning that he meets van Gerwen in round one.

The interesting part of this event is will World Number 3 go to Adrian Lewis or Peter Wright? Wright is currently in front and may argue has a tricky potential second round match against Wade or King. Lewis on the other hand in the other half of the draw has Robert Thornton in his opener, then the winner of Suljovic and Barney in round two.

My money would be on Wright to progress further than Lewis on the virtue of form, but you really never know.

MVG's success over the last eleven weeks had he started from scratch would have seen him leap to third in the world. This is how dominant mighty mike has been! He is best priced 4/5, which bookies are trying to heal the wounds suffered from backers piling in on the world number one.

Anderson is 15/2 with Wright 20/1, Lewis and Chisnall 28/1 and the rest bigger. To pick a winner here is tricky like it should be. However, Skybet goes 1/2 that Anderson, MVG or Painter win this with a new winner 6/4. Both are in good form, and Painter can always turn up when he wants to. Anderson and MVG are on opposing sides of the draw, so can see backers seeing interest on this. The same firm offers 5/1 MVG and Anderson meet in the final and MVG reign supreme and 7/2 for naming the pair to make the final. Being held in Anderson territory will appeal.

Going with youth in the first round versus veterans sees Benito van de Pas able to see off Brendan Dolan, who was well beaten in his quarter-final with MVG at the grand slam. In addition, Darryl Gurney is now getting back to form since his hand injury and can see off the veteran Ronnie Baxter. The double pays 21/20 at Hills.

Other games I like the look of are Thornton and Lewis to see either win 6-4 or 6-5. Lewis is not in the best of form and get the hint Thornton will use this to try and take the game. However, with missed doubles from both, this will allow any breaks of the throw to be recovered. Results between the head to head imply it should go under, but at 11/10 for over 9.5 legs does appeal.

Backers of the treble will pay nearly 7/2 but more accurately 33/10 with William Hill!

I really liked Terry Jenkins also at even money with Hills earlier this week, but has eased to 10/11 with most major firms.

I do think for the first couple of rounds not to steam in but look at the bigger picture of the longer format to dissect the value as it emerges.

Recommendation

Benito van de Pas and Darryl Gurney to win and Adrian Lewis/Rob Thornton over 9.5 legs - 33/10 William Hill.

Best of luck!

@lockuptipster