Rob Cross is next up as number two in the world currently and having shown some good form in patches this year. Gary Anderson is third favourite to reclaim his title at 9/1
2007 champion and five-time runner-up James Wade is next up at 16/1. There is also short betting odds for the likes of Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith and now Nathan Aspinall with the latter going to 25/1 after winning the US Darts Masters this past weekend.
Glen Durrant and Jamie Hughes despite making their debuts in Blackpool are seen as dangerous with odds of 40/1 and 50/1 respectively for the pair.
The likes of Ricky Evans, Krzysztof Ratajski and Chris Dobey who are making their debut sit outside the 100/1 range ahead of the tournament beginning at the Winter Gardens.
Click here to view the field for the World Matchplay.
Betfred Pre-Tournament Odds
11/10 Michael van Gerwen
7/1 Rob Cross
9/1 Gary Anderson
16/1 James Wade
20/1 Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith
22/1 Peter Wright
25/1 Nathan Aspinall, Daryl Gurney
33/1 Mensur Suljovic
40/1 Ian White, Glen Durrant, Dave Chisnall
50/1 Adrian Lewis, Jamie Hughes
66/1 Jeffrey de Zwaan
100/1 Krzysztof Ratajski
125/1 Chris Dobey, Stephen Bunting, Simon Whitlock, Jonny Clayton
150/1 Joe Cullen, Danny Noppert, Max Hopp
200/1 Keegan Brown, Ricky Evans, Steve Beaton, Darren Webster, Mervyn King, John Henderson, Jermaine Wattimena
250/1 Vincent van der Voort