2021 The Masters: Tournament preview

Thursday, 28 January 2021 at 08:00

The first darting major of the season begins Friday January 29th and promises to be an ultra-competitive affair with the top twenty-four players in world darts all in action. This year’s edition will feature an added incentive for all competing players as, on top of the £220,000 prize fund, there will be the added bonus of a potential place in the 2021 Premier League. World Champion Gerwyn Price will begin the event as the new world number one and will be joined by the other twenty three remaining players on the PDC Order of Merit.

Price’s maiden victory at the 2020 PDC World Championships crowned his greatest day in the sport and his attention will now turn to a first win in the years first darts major. “The Iceman” will be expecting another fantastic season after a phenomenal 2020 which saw him win two major titles.

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Newly crowned world number one Gerwyn Price will not enter the tournament till the second round with the other seven highest ranked players. Price will have his eyes firmly glued on the winner of World Championship semi-finalist Stephen Bunting and Joe Cullen. Bunting will be hoping to build on a return to form in the World Championships as he was just pipped to a final berth by the newly crowned world champion Price.

Other ties to look out for include a matchup between 2020 Grand Slam Champion Jose De Sousa and Johnny Clayton. Both enjoyed strong 2020 campaigns and will be looking to start the year with a first win at the Masters. Michael van Gerwen awaits the winner of Clayton and De Sousa and “Mighty Mike” will be hoping to continue his stunning record at the Masters by searching for his sixth title in seven years after Peter Wright ended his dominance of the tournament last year. The Dutchman will also be hoping to take back his world number one ranking from Gerwyn Price.

Gary Anderson will be looking to start the year with a bang after a solid second place in the 2020 World Championship. Anderson awaits the winner of the first round tie between Adrian Lewis and Michael Smith. “Jackpot” will be in search of a return to form after a few difficult years on the Oche. The two time world champion will face a tough tie against “Bully Boy” Michael Smith who is hoping to win his first major title in Milton Keynes.

Other first round ties include 2020 Premier League Champion Glen Durrant against Mervyn King, Pole Krzysztof Ratajski challenging Simon Whitlock and Daryl “Superchin” Gurney versus Jeffrey de Zwaan. While Durrant is assured a Premier League position for the 2021 running competitors such as King, Ratajski and Whitlock will be hoping to impress event organisers and force their way into Premier League Plans with a strong performance at the 2021 Masters.

The tournament kicks off with a first round tie between Ian White and Mensur Suljovic on 29th January at 7PM. No fans will be in attendance for the season’s first major at the Milton Keynes Marshall Arena due to the UK’s ongoing National Lockdown. The first round will be televised live on ITV4 and promises to be a competitive tournament with Michael van Gerwen starting as the surprise favourite for the event with Gerwyn Price a close second.