"I actually thought after the World Matchplay, Michael was nailed on to win this": Nicholson latest to back Van Gerwen for World Darts Championship glory

Paul Nicholson spoke to Online Darts recently previewing the PDC World Darts Championship and the main talking points including Peter Wright going into the tournament with all the talk about issues off the oche instead of defending his title but 'The Asset' believes he will be sharp.

"When it comes to Peter though, he had his lay-over in the summer and he came back to the European Tour in Hungary and he looked sharp and sometimes forced breaks for certain players may just do them so good. We always used to talk about Phil Taylor not playing every event but when he would go to the World's, he'd be ready so I've got no doubt in my mind that Peter will be ready but as far as the others, I don't think they're going in there with the amount of confidence they have in previous years," he said to Online Darts.

The same can be said for Michael van Gerwen who is favourite to finally seal a fourth World title and he believes it is likely to happen this year.

"I actually thought after the World Matchplay, Michael was nailed on to win this. I just thought it'd be one of those years where he'd pick up the Premier League, the World Matchplay, the World Grand Prix and the World's, the big four. He's got three of them so why not the fourth. It's going to be tough for him but we know how much he loves set play and he hasn't won one in a while so it'd be a good way to crack that drought."

A lot of hype also surrounds Josh Rock going into this year's World Darts Championship which Nicholson believes needs to be tempered.

"To coin the phrase of an Oasis album, Definitely Maybe. We're talking about 2023 already with Josh because it will be his second album you could say. Oasis's second album was pretty good but as far as Josh is concerned, he's only a kid, he's had a great year. Let him blossom into the player that he will be for a 10-year period."

"When you talk about the ladies game everybody's first thought is Fallon Sherrock because of her success and what she's done for the profile for the ladies game. So yes there was a lot lost in that press release which was a great thing from the PDC to offer more for the Women's Series."

"Everyone focused on the Fallon Sherrock situation and that's the way it works with social media they will pick a story and go with it."