Former finalist Kevin Painter had his World Championship odds cut after his recent Players Championship win.
First televised win sees 44-year-old's odds slashed
Kevin Painter must have thought he missed his big chance for darting stardom when he lost to Phil Taylor in a sudden-death leg of the 2004 PDC World Championship final.
But after some barren years the 44-year-old is well and truly back in big time in the build-up to this year's extravaganza at the Alexandra Palace.
Painter pulled off a major shock at the Doncaster Dome last weekend when he defeated Mark Webster in the Players Championship final to net £60,000 in prize money and his first televised title.
Gary Anderson, Scott Rand and Colin Osborne were brushed aside en-route giving Painter a massive boost ahead of the sport's showpiece.
Painter had been a 250/1 shot to win the event in South Yorkshire and Sky Bet has since seen backing from punters to further improve on what has already been the best month of his darting career.
"It's highly unlikely Painter will be able to spring another shock at the 'Ally Pally' as the longer format matches will suit the classier players, but he looks a solid bet at
1/2 to beat Arron Monk in the first round given that he will be full of confidence", said Sky Bet's Chris Spicer.
Phil Taylor will be looking to bounce back from an early exit in the Players Championship, the red hot 5/6 favourite was dumped out by Mervyn King in the 2nd round in Doncaster but "The Power" has still enjoyed a stellar year.
Since July, Taylor has won the World Matchplay, European Championships, World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts.
"The draw Taylor has been handed is kind to say the least with either Mark Dudbridge or Dave Chisnall his opponent if he overcomes one of the preliminary qualifiers.
Taylor is also 5/2 to hit a 170 finish in the tournament and 3/1 to hit a 9 darter," added Spicer.
"Taylor's preparation over the last month has been geared toward this tournament. He had a break in Tenerife earlier in the month and despite his Players Championship defeat he looks to be coming into this tournament with a clear head."
Defending champion Adrian Lewis is Phil Taylor's most likely opponent if he manages to improve on last year's quarter final exit and an all-Stoke final
showdown between the pair on January 2 is a 3/1 chance with Sky Bet.
If you fancy Lewis to reach the final then he is
25/1 to pull off a 9-dart finish when he gets there after his third leg 9-darter in last year's climax.
James Wade is the other major force in the bottom half of the draw and a 'Power' v 'Machine' final is an 11/2 shot.
Gary Anderson is the other likely contender.
"The Flying Scotsman" is 8/1 to win the tournament and the beaten 2011 finalist was the stand-out competitor last year with his destructive scoring.
Sky Bet offer 6/1 that the favourites for each quarter are all successful, with Taylor, Anderson, Lewis and Wade the four most likely semi-finalists.
