Championship League darts betting
Championship League Darts is a PDC darts tournament which has adapted a league and legs format similar to the Premier League, but which offers the top players outside of the top eight in the PDC Order of Merit a chance to compete for the championship. It is the first darts tournament to be solely broadcast on and funded by internet distribution.
The tournament was first announced on the official PDC website in mid-April under the name Championship of Darts.
It takes place throughout September and October and features a field of 29 players. The inaugural championship, the 2008 Championship League Darts, was held at the Crondon Park Golf Club in Essex and featured a prize fund of £189,000 and a place in the Grand Slam of Darts for the winner.
Phil Taylor won the inaugural championship and is invariably the dominant force in Championship League darts betting.
In fact, “The Power” is the most dominant force in any sport.
Multiple world championships have become the highlights for the man from the Potteries; he remains the one to beat whenever he takes to the oche. The years may roll by, but the results seldom change and history will mark Taylor as one of the all-time greats.
Yet even with Taylor’s involvement, Championship league darts betting offers incredible scope to make money.
The eight players for Group One are headed by world number one Phil Taylor, while James Wade, who was the Group One winner last year, is joined by Mervyn King, Adrian Lewis, debutant Simon Whitlock, Mark Walsh, Colin Lloyd and Robert Thornton.
The eight players face each other once in the round-robin group stage over the best of 11 legs, with prize money of £50 per leg won. The top four players after the completion of the league phase progress to the semi-finals and final, where prize money increases to £100 per leg. The Group winner will progress to October’s Winners Group, while the bottom two players from the league table are eliminated and the remaining five players progress to the next group where they’re joined by three other players. Given the structure, there’s plenty of scope for multiple Championship League darts bets.
With so many of the world’s leading players involved in the tournament, the odds on Taylor reaching the final are worth investigating. But there is so much strength in depth throughout the professional game that predictions who he will face in the final remain wide open.
As the tournament is being broadcast only on the internet, online Championship League darts betting has added another dimension.
And as one sports journalist said: “Betting on the Championship league darts is an exciting new development which offer the opportunity to online bookmakers to promote a range of new markets.
“The fact the tournament is internet only makes it extremely interesting to online bookmakers and we may see other sports taking a closer look at the event’s audience, its standings and results as the fixtures unfold. This adds to the appeal for other sports and to punters when they’re placing their Championship League darts bet.”
Meanwhile, for those prepared to look beyond Taylor, staking a Championship League darts bet on the group winners may be the ideal opportunity to take advantage of one of the free bets on offer from your online bookmaker.
The UK has always been the home of darts, but overseas players such as Simon Whitlock and Raymond van Barneveld are worth investigating when placing your Championship League darts bets.
For serious darts fans, live Championship League darts betting odds are the compelling attraction as the tournament evolves.
The journalist added: “Championship League darts betting odds will be as fast moving as the game, and UK customers will have to keep a close eye on the odds. The standings will also change rapidly and if you have a free bet riding on a surprise winner, then you’re likely to find the action particularly gripping.
“History, of course, counts for much and Taylor will rightly head the Champions League darts odds tables. But remember: this is not the world championship and upsets can happen.
“By all means bet on Championship League darts group winners, but one of the highlights of any darts tournament is always the odds on a nine-dart finish or highest average and the fixtures will offer plenty of scope to grab a piece of this betting action.
“The canny predictor might be tempted to look for all the group winners when mulling over the Championship League darts betting. Though expected to be relatively short, they may appeal as the event’s banker – other than Taylor, of course.
“The finalists will also be invited to compete in the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts in November, a feature which adds spice to Championship League darts odds.
“In short, Championship League darts betting offers punters a new format for a new tournament. The tournament and the wagering on it promises to add much to the sporting calendar.”