Saturday 1 October 2016 12:01, UK
Will we see shock results? Who's the dark horse? Sky Sports asked the usual suspects - plus two special guests - to answer our World Grand Prix questions.
Wayne Mardle: 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.
Dave Clark: The top double hitters are the names to look out for. Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, James Wade and Gary Anderson are all in with a major shout. It's great to see 32 players, rather than these tournaments where there is just the top eight in the world.
James Wade, because he's such a good finisher. I think Robert Thornton is not a bad little finisher, either. Barney always has a good record in this.
You need massive mental strength when you're starting on a double, because your dreams can be shattered in a leg. If you don't get off in the first three darts, then the pressure mounts on you. It's a fantastic format.
Adrian Lewis: It's a tournament you can't really practice for. Being a rhythm player as well, it's hard. You start on double top, then get down to treble 20. It's hard to get into a rhythm. It suits a more mechanical player.
Rod Studd: The format makes it different and unpredictable. Because of the format, someone's engine can stall. I remember John Part played Adrian Lewis, who won the first set then went 2-0 up in the second set. Part came back and won.
In 2007, Andy Jenkins played Mark Dudbridge and it went to a last-leg shoot-out. Dudbridge took 10 darts to get away but somehow he managed to reel him in. I've never seen anything like it, he was cavorting around the stage doing a River Dance. Only in this format can something so quirky happen.
Clark: It's a tournament that has the top players quaking in their boots, because it's a race to two sets in the first round, which is so short. Your dreams can be shattered in an instant. Taylor has crashed out in the first round a few times.
Steve Beaton played well in Blackpool and has got Michael van Gerwen in the first round. If Beaton gets his act together early doors, he could cause a massive shock and do some damage to Van Gerwen.
Taylor: I'm not looking forwards to the first round because it's best-of-three sets. Nobody is looking forward to it because everybody is vulnerable in the first round. This is the FA Cup, it's a great leveller. It's like Man United playing Port Vale in just 45 minutes - anybody can be 1-0 up at half-time!
Adrian Lewis has Jelle Klaasen which will be a tough one for him. Jelle plays well against Aidy - but Aidy will play well against Jelle too. That is potentially a really good game. Van Gerwen plays Beaton who is fast - if Steve is on form, then he'll knock him out. Steve isn't bothered about beating Michael, and he isn't a bottler.
Studd: I think Alan 'Chuck' Norris has a great chance against Michael Smith. Norris had a nightmare at the Matchplay when he won the first leg against Gary Anderson then lost the next 10. But Smith needs a big dose of confidence, he looks short. In this format, if you're not confident on doubles, you've got problems. It becomes like pushing custard uphill with a fork. Michael will recapture his confidence at some point but he looks like a vulnerable favourite.
Clark: Robert Thornton came from nowhere, earned his place in the top eight in the world, and is the defending champion. He's got Stephen Bunting in the first round, which won't be easy.
Gary Anderson has never won it, that adds a bit of pressure. Raymond van Barneveld has never won it. It's a special breed of pressure that can cope with the pressure of starting on a double.
Mardle: 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. 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 [Suljovic] 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.
Lewis: Mensur Suljovic. He's always there or thereabouts, he got to the semis last year. His form has picked up over the course of this year so he'll have a good run. He's one of those players that dictates the pace of the game.
Taylor: Michael Smith. A lovely lad and a lovely player, he's very good.
Studd: Benito van de Pas. He's playing Gerwyn Price first. He's been threatening to break into the world's top 15 for some time. He hasn't really shown what he can do on the television but you get the feeling with Benito that it's a matter of time before it all clicks into gear.
It could be this week. He's in a quarter of the draw without Michael van Gerwen, without Phil Taylor and without Gary Anderson. One of these days, Benito will play at his peak for three matches running and if he does that, they'll all have to watch out.
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