If you've been following along with our PDC Home Tour Darts coverage, you know what our basic strategy is for the early part of this first-of-its-kind event. Given the unfamiliar environment and format for this tournament– the players are at home, play is sometimes interrupted by phone calls and the matches are short — it seems unwise to back big favorites.
Night 7 was more of the same as Gabriel Clemens, the favorite in Group 7, struggled to a 1-2 record, while underdogs Ryan Meikle and Gavin Carlin each collected wins. Jelle Klaasen (+200) would end up winning the group, meaning that only one group-favorite, Dave Chisnall, has advanced to Round 2.
Will Night 8 bring more upsets?
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PDC Home Tour Night 8 Betting Odds and Picks
Friday, April 24 at 2:30 p.m. ET
- No. 15 Johnny Clayton (+130)
- No. 115 Adam Hunt (+275)
- No. 87 David Pallett (+350)
- No. 55 Richard North (+400)
- Jonny Clayton (-190) v Adam Hunt (+140)
- Richard North (-114) v David Pallett (-114)
- Adam Hunt (-150) v David Pallett (+115)
- Jonny Clayton (-230) v Richard North (+170)
- Richard North (+110) v Adam Hunt (-143)
- David Pallett (+155) v Jonny Clayton (-210)
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Jonny "The Ferret" Clayton headlines perhaps the most mediocre group we've seen so far on the Home Tour. Clayton has put together some decent results in 2020 and boasts a 94.81 average over the past year, but favorites have been very vulnerable in this tournament and Clayton isn't the caliber of player that would scare me off sticking with my underdog-heavy strategy. In fact, I don't know if he'd be the favorite in any of other groups that have played so far.
The fact that the big names have wobbled over the past week tells me that some of the game's high-profile players are struggling to find the motivation to succeed at The Home Tour. That was what I expected would happen and it's hard to blame them for not getting up for this event. It's a bizarre tournament and playing a competitive match in your own living room probably isn't everybody's cup of tea.
Clayton may want to continue building on his 2020 success, but I'm not going to lay big prices with a lukewarm favorite.
If I was going to bet on someone to win the group I would look to Adam "The Hunter" Hunt at +275. I've liked backing young players looking to make a name for themselves in the PDC and Hunt has been in decent form this season, so I wouldn't stop anybody from having a flutter on The Hunter.
That being said, I'm choosing to go with a full-on fade of Clayton rather than backing one of the underdogs. Richard "Lionheart" North and David Pallett wouldn't strike fear into most PDC players, but upsets are bound to happen in 9-leg matches. The shorter the match, the better the value on the dog.
Clayton may be on song and his talent could win out, but as long as the favorites continue to struggle, I'll be on the underdogs.
PDC Home Tour Night 8 Betting Picks
- Adam Hunt (+140) over Jonny Clayton
- Richard North (+170) over Jonny Clayton
- David Pallett (+155) over Jonny Clayton
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PDC Home Tour Betting Record: 10-15, +1.5 units
PDC Home Tour Odds and Schedule
PDC Home Tour Group Winners
- Group 1: Jamie Lewis (+600)
- Group 2: Luke Woodhouse (+600)
- Group 3: Dave Chisnall (-134)
- Group 4: Geert Nentjes (+250)
- Group 5: Nick Kenny (+450)
- Group 6: Ryan Searle (+180)
- Group 7: Jelle Klaasen (+200)
PDC Home Tour Darts Tournament Rules and Format
- If you're unfamiliar with the rules of darts, click here.
- The tournament will feature 32 groups of four players who will play a round robin to determine a group winner.
- One group plays per day, for 32 days in a row. Yes, 32 days in a row.
- All group-stage matches are best-of-9 legs and two points will be awarded for a win. If there is a tie at the top of standings, the first tiebreaker will be leg difference.
- After the 32-day group stage, the winners will advance to the second phase of the competition. I'm assuming that means a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament. But, the PDC website didn't go any further than that.
- The action will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local time) each night and stream on PDC.tv, free of charge.
- The first eight groups have been announced, along with the order of play, though the PDC has yet to confirm the remaining competitors.
