The idea of travelling around Scotland in November may not sound like the ideal holiday for any sun-worshippers out there, but if you’re a darts fan, then there’s probably nowhere you’d rather be over the weekend of the 21st/22nd November 2015.
Glasgow’s Braehead Arena will play host to all the action from the World Series of Darts Finals, and with the 24-man field now completed, a strong line-up will have fans of the sport well and truly salivating over the prospect of some of the biggest names slugging it out for a shot at the title.
This is the first year that the event has taken place, and given its vast array of bars, restaurants and beautiful historic architecture, Glasgow provides a fitting setting for this tournament. The nights may be getting longer and you will probably need to carry an umbrella around with you, but the people are warm, friendly and hugely passionate about darts, so regardless of whether you get a seat at the Braehead Arena, or are forced to watch the action unfold in a nearby pub, you can be guaranteed of a unique and inimitable atmosphere wherever you are in the city.
Certainly the event features a truly international line-up, with Belgium, Sweden, the UK, Austria and the Netherlands all represented, and some of the biggest names in the sport will be entering the action on Saturday evening when the seeded players get involved. Early favourites for the title include Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwan, Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld and given the constant state of flux that the high-calibre games are almost bound to produce, I would recommend stoking the fires of excitement by having a little flutter on one of those players, just add to the thrill.
Coral have stepped up the PDC oche by offering a wide range of generous, up-to-the-minute odds, so why not embrace the local culture by visiting one of their many bookmakers around the city – or if you are pushed for time, get involved via your tablet or smartphone by using their online app.
Raymond van Barneveld in particular looks good value at 33/1, but it’s hard to look past the early favourite, Michael van Gerwan, whose excellent form throughout 2015 is reflected in his price of 15/8. That said, Terry Jenkins was hugely impressive in qualifying last month, and he is listed at 100/1 – so if you’re looking to swell your travelling coffers, he looks likely to reach the semi-final and could well be worth an each way bet.
With the action getting underway next weekend, you’ll have to move fast: tickets for the event are available from the Braehead Arena Box Office by calling 0844 499 1700, or online via Ticketmaster.