Looking for a World Darts Championship shock? Let Eric Bristow point you in the right direction.
Bristow tells you where the shocks could occur
Eric Bristow reckons the seeds will soon be tumbling when the 2011 World Darts Championship kicks off.
The format of the Alexandra Palace event, which will be live on
Sky Sports throughout the festive period, means the top 32 players on the PDC Order of Merit will be kept apart in the opening round.
But five-time World Champion Bristow feels the qualifiers and international players are stronger than ever and will be able to trouble the big names in the early stages.
The first round matches will be completed in the week leading up to Christmas and the Crafty Cockney is expecting some giant-killing in the initial best-of-five-set matches.
He told
skysports.com: "I'm looking forward to it, I really am. I keep saying it every year, but it's the strongest field ever yet again.
"There's going to be a lot of shocks. Them 32 seeds are not going to get through the first round.
"It's a strong field of dart players and on their night any of them can put a couple of sets together. Then that's it, bye bye. Three sets and you're out!
"Your worst nightmare is to go out before Christmas. Everyone wants to get that first game out of the way, then go home and have Christmas, do a bit with the family.
"There's always a few shocks in that first round. It's the best of five sets, which is a fair old game but is a bit of a short format for professionals nowadays.
"If you go one set down then you're suddenly under pressure."
Tough
Bristow, who will be part of the
Sky Sports team throughout the tournament, has been keeping a close eye on the players all year.
And he picked out a few unseeded players, who could cause a shock in the first week.
He said: "
Darin Young is going to be a tough game for Wes Newton. The big American is a good player on TV and looked good in the World Cup.
"
Alex Roy is going to fancy his chances against Mark Dudbridge and
Tony Eccles is going to fancy his game against Adrian Lewis. He's either up or down, there's no in between with him.
"
Steve Maish is going to have a chance against Mark Webster, who played fantastically in the World Cup. In the best of five sets, Maishy will be tough to beat.
"
Steve Farmer can beat Paul Nicholson and if
Peter Wright turns up he could have a good go at Co Stompe. He has different colour hair all the time and hasn't played well on TV yet.
"
Chris Thompson could beat Colin Osborne and
Kevin McDine won't be worried about Barrie Bates. The Welshman lost all seven singles in the World Cup - and that's not the proper preparation for a World Championship.
"I fancy little
Steve Brown against Jelle Klaasen. Another seed could go there because the little lad from Bristol has been on two TV tournaments now and has twice got through the first round.
"I fancy
Brendan Dolan against Kevin Painter and
Dennis Smith will slow down Andy Hamilton... there's loads of them. It's a minefield.
"I wish I could pick all the winners. We'd have some yankee then!"
Greatest
But could Alexandra Palace witness the greatest upset of all? Could world number one - and 15-time world champion - Phil Taylor possibly fall at the first hurdle?
He is scheduled to play either Gary Mawson or Juanito Gionzon and Bristow is backing the former to come through their preliminary round match on the same night.
And while Bristow wouldn't put money on a shock result, he feels the Canadian is good enough to trouble The Power.
He said: "Gary Mawson has a preliminary game earlier in the night and if he gets through the first game and onto the big money he can have a go at Taylor.
"It's best of five sets, and he's been on TV before. He was runner-up at Bolton a couple of years ago when he beat Barney and the crowd were all calling him 'Benitez' because he looks like Rafael Benitez.
"He's a top player and he'll be ready for him. I wouldn't bet against Taylor but you never know."
