PDC World Masters 2021 Preview

The Ladbrokes PDC Masters will begin on Friday 29th January until Sunday 31st January. This will be the ninth edition of the Masters. The Masters event will be staged at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. Due to lockdown the event will be played behind closed doors.

History and Format

The tournament was introduced to the PDC circuit in 2013 featuring the top 16 players from the PDC rankings. Phil Taylor won the first event beating Adrian Lewis 10-1 in the final. James Wade won the 2014 edition before Michael Van Gerwen dominated winning five in a row. Peter Wright won last years event beating Michael Smith 11-10.

The tournament this year has been expanded to 24 players with an extra session added. Prize money for the event this year will total £220,000 with the winner getting £60,000. First round matches will be played best of 11 legs, with the second round and quarter finals best of 19 legs. The semi's and final will be best of 21 legs.

The first round draw is below;

(16) Joe Cullen v (17) Stephen Bunting, winner to face Gerwyn Price (1)

(9) Michael Smith v (24) Adrian Lewis, winner to face Gary Anderson (8)

(13) Glen Durrant v (20) Mervyn King, winner to face Rob Cross (4)

(12) Ian White v (21) Mensur Suljovic, winner to face Nathan Aspinall (5)

(15) Jose de Sousa v (18) Jonny Clayton, winner to face Michael Van Gerwen (2)

(10) Dimitri Van den Bergh v (23) Chris Dobey, winner to face James Wade (7)

(14) Krzysztof Ratajski v (19) Simon Whitlock, winner to face Peter Wright (3)

(11) Daryl Gurney v (22) Jeffrey de Zwaan, winner to face Dave Chisnall (6)

Tournament Favourites

Michael Van Gerwen

Michael Van Gerwen is favourite to win with Sky Bet with odds of 5/2. The five time winner of this event is currently ranked number two on the PDC order of Merit. The Dutchman reached the quarter finals of the World Championships losing five sets to nil to Dave Chisnall. A poor 2020 by Van Gerwen standards winning only events, Michael will out to reclaim his place at number one in 2021.

Gerwyn Price

World Champion, World number on and World Cup winner. Price won the 2021 World Championship beating Gary Anderson in the final. The win moved the Welshman to number one in the world. Three event wins in 2020 and winning the Worlds in 2021, Price will want to add another Major prize to his list of wins. Price is second favourite with odds of 11/4.

Peter Wright

Last years Masters Champion picked up three Events wins in 2020, including the World Championships and European Championship. However his defence of the World Championship do not go as hoped as he went out in round three. After three events wins in 2020 Snakebite will be looking to left more trophies in 2021. Wright is given odds of 13/2 to be the outright winner.

Players to Watch

Dimitri Van den Bergh

Claiming his first PDC Major in 2020 winning the World Match play and reaching semi finals in both the Grand Slam and World Cup. Dimitri enjoyed his best year on the PDC circuit and will be looking to build in 2021. Just outside the main favourites at 14/1, Dimitri is a player who can give any a game and is capable of beating anyone.

James Wade

A bit of an outside choice but a player when on form has the beating of anyone. Given odds of 28/1, Wade could prove a shock and win the event outright. With 11 major event wins across his career there will not be players wanting to face an in form James Wade.

How to Watch

For UK and Ireland viewers this event will be broadcast on ITV4. RTL7 will broadcast in the Netherlands whilst DAZN will broadcast across various global territories. PDC TV and Match room Live will also offer streaming for subscribers in other parts of the world.