Wednesday 7 October 2020 23:30, UK
The World Grand Prix returns on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, and Wayne Mardle has revealed the winning formula for the double-in-double-out tournament.
World No 1 Michael van Gerwen, world champion Gary Anderson, and Phil Taylor will be part of a high quality field which heads to Dublin for the major competition, running from October 2-8.
But the World Grand Prix is unlike any other televised event, with players starting and finishing on a double including the bullseye.
Sky Sports expert Mardle offers his own refresher on the rules, reveals how you hit a nine-darter, and picks out an unlikely title contender.
What sets the World Grand Prix apart from other tournaments?
Every single tournament, apart from the World Grand Prix, only one double has to be hit. To win any leg in the World Grand Prix, you have to hit two doubles. Whether it be a bullseye to start and a bullseye to finish, which would be the most difficult way to win a leg, or you could start on double 20 and finish on double one.
As long as you hit a double to start, then the scoring sequences can happen. If you were to go, treble 20, treble 20, double top with your first three darts, you would only score 40. The first scoring dart has to be a double. If you hit 20, 20, 20, none of that counts.
Is it tougher than other major tournaments?
It's difficult. Hitting one double a leg is what the players are used to. Hitting two can ruin your rhythm. We will see a player, maybe even more than one, go for treble 20 with their first or second dart, because they have forgotten that they need a double.
How do you complete a nine-darter?
The perfect leg starts with a 160. Normally you would see a player starting with a 180, which is three treble 20s. But in the World Grand Prix you go double 20, treble 20, treble 20. From there you can go 180, which leaves 161, and then 60, treble 17, and finally bullseye. That is a perfect leg.
It's been achieved three times now, firstly by Brendan Dolan, and James Wade and Robert Thornton both achieved it in the same match in 2014. Incredible scenes.
Which players are suited to the format?
It was one of the tournaments where I wasn't beaten before I started, because I won matches there obviously, because I was pretty good. But I never thought that my game was ever going to be at its best in a double start tournament.
The rhythm is different. I was better known as a scorer, than a finisher, so I think it's no coincidence that Gary Anderson has never won the event.
The rhythm is different. I was better known as a scorer, than a finisher, so I think it's no coincidence that Gary Anderson has never won the event. He can win it now, he's a better double hitter than he's ever been.
You really need to be a very accomplished double hitter to win the event. When you look down through history, the likes of Colin Lloyd, who was fantastic on his day, Phil Taylor, James Wade. It's not a coincidence.
The one for me that says it all - is Robert Thornton last year. In my opinion, Robert Thornton's best chance to win a major since 2012, was always going to be the World Grand Prix. He loves double top and is very good on double top.
Some like it and some don't. Those that don't, it will become evident straight away.
Who could spring a surprise this year?
I'm going to go for someone who is on form, someone that can score, and someone that is brutally good on doubles - Mensur Suljovic.
I really do think that he will have a real good run. He was a semi-finalist last year. Mensur is a very accomplished player now and I think he could maybe reach the final.
Have you watched him on doubles? He looks at them and I'm thinking 'he's just going to get you.' He is an absolute machine at the moment and I really do think that he will have a real good run. He was a semi-finalist last year. Mensur is a very accomplished player now and I think he could maybe reach the final.
Van Gerwen and Taylor remain the players to beat, along with Anderson. It's going to be a good tournament.
Watch the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports, from Sunday October 2.
