PDC World Championship - Preview Part 1

German speaking Players
The first German player on the stage of the Alexandra Palace will be Rene Eidams. Eidams is better known in Germany for soft-darts than for steel-darts though that doesn't give evidence about his skill. He joined Super League Germany as successor for a player who had to withdraw and not really convinced during this season. Nevertheless he somehow managed to get into the Superleague Final and win it. That shows that he is capable to perform in many matches over one day and succeed. Eidams has no experience at all with a stage like the one in Alexandra Palace and no experience with such a crowd as the World Championship crowd, but the same applies to his opponent Thanawat Gaweenuntawong. There is not much known about Thanawat Gaweenuntawong only that he won the South East Asian Qualifier. But how strong his opponents were is not known either.
Whether the situation in Alexandra Palace will intimidate Eidams or light him up is difficult to predict. But probably he will have a chance against Thanawat Gaweenuntawong though he will have no chance at all in the first round against Michael van Gerwen.

Two days later it will be Jyhan Artut's turn. Artut already took part several times in the PDC World Championship with highs and lows. Last year his appearance was somehow screwed up - he met Phil Taylor and his complaint about the crooked dartboard was accepted neither by the referee nor by Phil Taylor so he lost the sympathy of the crowd. To be sure he'll want get that right again this year. But his year was not really good and in some of his matches he was rather unlucky and came within a whisker to win. With Stephen Bunting he has got quite a strong opponent and should Bunting get a good start in the match Artut will need a lot of luck to reach the second round. Should he reach it his opponent there probably would be Raymond van Barneveld who was in great form recently - probably that form just will be too great for Artut.

The last German on stage in the first round will be the only recently crowned Youth World Champion Max Hopp on the 23. December. It's never easy when you have to wait so long for your first match. Hopp will play against Benito van de Pas who similar as Hopp not always is consistent and who played this year some great matches and some rather weak matches as well. Hopp will be under a lot of pressure not only by the German fans but by himself and his own expectations as well so much will depend on the form on the day and of course on how well Hopp can withstand the pressure.
Should he win he will probably meet Ian White in round two - an often underestimated player. In round three he could meet former youth World Champion Michael Smith who is not always consistent either. But Smith is the more experienced player and probably will be well prepared for the World Championship by his mentor Gary Anderson. But should have Smith a bad day it would be Max who's to use his chance.


The first Austrian on stage will be as with the German players the one with the least experience on big stage - Michael Rasztovits. Contrary to Eidams he played a good Superleague Eastern season. His opponent will be Rob Szabo from New Zealand. Szabo has been in the ally Pally before and won his preliminary match and even won a set against Phil Taylor first round. It could be a difficult job for Rasztovits.

On the same evening as Rasztovits Mensur Suljovic will open his tournament. Suljovic showed some really great performances this year but in his matches it often depends how his opponents cope with his extreme throw. Fast throwers like Gary Anderson will get in a lot of trouble when they should they start to get agitated. I can't say how good Jermaine Wattimena is. Should Suljovic win he'll meet probably Kim Huybrechts in round two - not an easy opponent. In round three his opponent might be Adrian Lewis. Its known those two not really get on. - I think I concede Lewis a better chance to win.

And then we'll have the last Austrian on stage - Rowby-John Rodriguez, who qualified like Max Hopp by the Pro Tour Order of Merit. Rodriguez got more and more consistent over the years - for me more consistent than Max Hopp, but he is some years older. And to be sure he's much less under pressure and observation than Hopp. But with Dave Chisnall Rodriguez has an opponent who will give him a tough time.Should Chisnall not have a really bad day he probably is still out of Rodriguez league.







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