World Grand Prix Darts 2014: Dates, Draw, Live Stream, TV Info and Prize Money
The World Grand Prix returns this week, as the elite of darts take to the Citywest Hotel in Dublin to battle it out for one of the sport’s most coveted prizes.
Phil Taylor took home the trophy in last year’s tournament with a near-flawless performance, and he’s now looking for Grand Prix title No. 12.
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However, the 2014 field is more competitive than ever, and while Taylor will be heavily backed to repeat his Grand Prix brilliance, it’s not going to be easy for the Power.
Here, we look at all the vital tournament info and dive into the thick of the action.
Dates: October 6-12
TV Info: Sky Sports (U.K. only)
Live Stream: Sky Go (U.K. only)
Prize Fund: £400,000
Round 1 Draw Looking Tasty
If past World Grand Prix tournaments have taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected in the opening rounds.
In the short format that kicks the action off, coming out of the blocks slowly can cost you dearly—just take Taylor in 2012 for example.
The Power went into his second-round match with Robert Thornton expecting to breeze through, but the Scot produced magic darts to send the 16-time world champion home early.
Taylor will be looking to avoid a similar start this time around in Dublin, but faces a tough task against the in-form Steve Beaton.
World No. 1 Michael van Gerwen also begins with a potential banana-skin tie, as he takes on fellow Dutchman Vincent van der Voort—the man who was the world champion’s best man at his wedding two months ago.
Here’s a look at the full first-round draw—per PDC:
| Michael van Gerwen | vs. | Vincent van der Voort |
| Dean Winstanley | vs. | Michael Smith |
| Dave Chisnall | vs. | Raymond van Barneveld |
| Mervyn King | vs. | Wes Newton |
| Simon Whitlock | vs. | Richie Burnett |
| Terry Jenkins | vs. | Kim Huybrechts |
| Peter Wright | vs. | Jamie Caven |
| Stephen Bunting | vs. | Ronnie Baxter |
| Phil Taylor | vs. | Steve Beaton |
| Darren Webster | vs. | Andrew Gilding |
| James Wade | vs. | Andy Smith |
| Robert Thornton | vs. | Justin Pipe |
| Gary Anderson | vs. | Brendan Dolan |
| Michael Mansell | vs. | Ian White |
| Adrian Lewis | vs. | Daryl Gurney |
| Kevin Painter | vs. | Andy Hamilton |
Home favourite Brendan Dolan comes into the World Grand Prix most years with an air of expectancy about him, but it never seems to materialise.
He hasn’t been handed any favours on his bid to reverse his fortunes, either, as he takes on Gary Anderson in the opening round.
However, the raucous crowd in Dublin can have a big affect on proceedings, and Dolan will be hoping that they can shake the usually reliable Scotsman.
Elsewhere, the Mr. Inconsistent of darts Peter Wright starts his World Grand Prix with a difficult match against Jamie Caven, but televised events do tend to bring out the best in Snakebite.
Wright will be heavily backed heading into the Dublin tournament, and he told the Diss Express that he’s keen to live up to his new tag as world No. 4—via PDC:
"It's been an up-and-down season. I've won a Players Championship event and the European Darts Open which are hard to win. But then I'm going out in the first round and I'm thinking what's going on? I've got a target on my back now. However, I'm world number four and it's about time I started playing like it.
"
Should Wright find a way past Caven, he’ll find himself up against either Stephen Bunting or Ronnie Baxter—meaning that the path to the quarter-finals is relatively clear for the 44-year-old.
However, as PDC noted, Wright hasn’t found a way past the quarter-finals of any tournament since his European Darts Open triumph, a spell lasting all of eight tournaments.
No better time, then, for Wright to put it right.
The Grand Prix is a major that seems to bring out the best in everyone—from the 32 competitors to the thousands of spectators—and 2014’s instalment looks like being no different.
Taylor, Van Gerwen, Wright and co. all have big points to prove in Dublin, but it takes more than just a big name to reap success on the Citywest stage.
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