The 2023 PDC World Championship Preview Mention MVG as a Top Favorite

The 2023 PDC World Championship will start next week, on the 15th of December. While the final is held in the new year, on the 3rd of January. Peter Wright is the defending champion but he is not the main favorite this time. Unlike the three-time world champion, Michael van Gerwen, who can win his fourth trophy according to the 2023 PDC World Championship preview. But top-form Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price can also go all the way again. 

The biggest darts tournament and one of the last major sporting events, the 2023 PDC World Championship will start next week. The tournament is held for the 30th time at the usual location, the Alexandra Palace in London. 96 players will compete for the Sid Waddell Trophy, with the top 32 players joining the competition in the second round.

We can find in the main favorites the best players in recent years, from Michael van Gerwen to Gerwyn Price. The defending champion, Peter Wright will also compete though he might not be in his best form following his wife’s health issues. Fans can also support younger players like Luke Humphries, Dimitri Van den Bergh and Josh Rock who might be this year’s surprise contester. 

Van Gerwen and Price Lead in 2023 PDC World Championship Preview 

Michael van Gerwen got the most wins this season with his 10 victories out of the 54 PDC events. He hasn’t been as convincing since 2019 when he got a staggering 24 wins. But winning has become much more difficult in the last few years. Thanks to the more balanced field where younger players can also beat their more experienced opponents. MVG is still the favorite of online sportsbooks in the UK to win his fourth world title. They offer the smallest odds, 3.50 for his victory. 

The Dutch world No3 has been in great form this season. He won such major tournaments as the World Matchplay, the World Grand Prix, and most recently the Players Championship Finals. One of his main rivals, Gerwyn Price had a great year too, even though he could only win five PDC events this season. But the world-ranking leader also reached the final in two more major events.

While he won the World Series of Darts Finals for the second time. The Iceman can also win his second world championship title after his first victory in 2021. But he won’t have an easy job even as the top seed of the tournament. 

As he can meet Raymond van Barneveld, James Wade, and Danny Noppert on his way to the final. In the 2023 PDC World Championship preview, he is still mentioned as another huge favorite with an odds of 7.00 to win the title. The reigning world champion and world No2 Peter Wright also appears at the top of the list. His preparation hasn’t been perfect after his wife’s health issues. Resulting in his weaker results in the major events this season. But he is a two-time world champion with an odds of 11.00 to defend his title. 

The Main Challengers: Smith, Clayton, Humphries

Michael Smith was very close to winning his first world championship title a year ago. But eventually, he lost in the final against Wright. Now Bully Boy will be a more experienced player who also got his first-ever major PDC title at the 2022 Grand Slam. He won four more titles this season and finished as a runner-up in both the UK Open and the European Championship. The world No4 is mentioned ahead of Peter Wright among the favorites with an odds of 8.50 on 888sport. 

Another English player, the world No5 Luke Humphries enjoyed the best season of his career in 2022. He got four wins in the 2022 European Tour and reached the semi-final at the last two major tournaments. His odds to win the world championship title now are 15.00. Online gambling sites in the UK offer the same odds for the victory of a more experienced player, Jonny Clayton.

The 48-year-old Welsh player didn’t get any major title this season, but he reached the final of the World Cup of Darts. And the semi-finals of four more major tournaments, including the Players Championship Finals last month. 

We can also find the odds of 15.00 next to the name of a great young talent, Josh Rock. The 21-year-old Northern Irish player won his Tour Card this year and got his first two PDC Development Tour wins. His best achievement has been his nine-darter finish in the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts against van Gerwen. But even that wasn’t enough to beat the Dutch champion. Rock might lack the experience to go a long way in the world championship this time. But he might do it in the next couple of years. 

Click here to try the best odds at 888Sport