Only saw a couple of world cup games, Besides Taylor my favourites are Stompe and Whitlock. Is next weeks tournament the one where Whitlock defeated Wade and Barny on the way to losing in the final to Taylor? I love his entrance music aswell, that is what made me a fan of his before i saw how good he was haha

he lost in the final to taylor..his entrance music isdown under by men at work a classic 80`s song..

Just downloaded it now haha

I won a nice few quid with an each way bet on Whitlock last year...

Realistically I can't see anyone beating Taylor, but I'd [ilove[/i Barney to get back to his best at the Worlds, and Whitlock will hopefully build on what he did there last year with another year's experience on the PDC circuit, with the crowds etc, behind him.

I have a feeling Wade is never gonna win it, at least until Taylor retires. He's good enough to do it while Taylor is still around, but I just suspect he won't. He hasn't got anywhere near the drive and desire of Phil. Unfortunately Barney's belief in himself is shot to bits and doesn't look likely to return any time soon, so the two most talented players outwith the fifteen time champion, who are without a doubt good enough to beat him if they play as well as they can, just don't seem to fancy it.

That for me makes Whitlock the main contender. He isn't as good as Wade or Barney, but isn't as held back by his own head the way they are.

Paul Nicholson (the aussie /geordie bloke) is a great outside bet. When he is at the top of his game he is easily as good as Wade, Whitlock and Barney. Did anyone else see the final in which he beat Taylor earlier this year? Won 10-9 after taking out 7 or 8 100+ finishes.

I thought Barney's problems were all supposed to be behind him, after his blackmailing. He had a strong finish to his PL season around Aprilish. Sorry, don't follow darts as much as I used to

Really?

He seemed to be perfectly content within himself when he won the World Cup of Darts with Holland at the weekend.

I didn't watch that so fair enough. He's a different man when he's playing Taylor though. He hasn't believed he can beat him for ages now.

Remember when he lost a final to Taylor earlier this year (the Matchplay I think but I'm not 100% sure) after a great tournament, and was asked "Is the real Barney back?"

His resigned response was, "I was already the second best and I'm the second best here." No belief when it counts.

REALLY. ERR World Championship final 2007. 3-0 down to Taylor, then battles back to win sudden death play off would suggest otherwise

He believed he was the best player in the world then. By his own admission one of his aims when he joined the PDC was to prove he was better than Taylor. He was sure he was, and in that final he played like it. It was amazing to watch.

However, self doubt has gradually crept in, and surely anyone who regularly watches darts can see that. When he's on fire he's really on fire, but when his head goes he struggles, and at times you get the feeling he's resigned himself to losing to Taylor before the match even starts. That's understandable for average players, but a Barney full of confidence and firing on all cylinders, a la 2007, has nothing to fear.

I'll be suprised if anybody apart from Taylor wins it. His nearest challengers are James Wade, Barney, Simon Witlock and Adiran Lewis IMO. I love watching Lewis play.

Also, how good is Co Stompe for entertainment value?

gary anderson should go well now he's adapted to the pdc circuit,tremendous scorer,taylor is the best ever thrower but i think a few cracks have started to appear this year and if someone gets into him in the earlier rounds he might not have it all his own way.

A darkhorse is Mark Webster, 33/1 at William Hills.

Thanks for clearing an argument up. I always thought Black Beauty was the dark horse. Its Whitlock who I think could win in outside Taylor & Wade.