Phil Taylor staat achter zijn voormalige protegé Adrian Lewis om te verrassen op het komen WK, en daar zijn derde wereldtitel te pakken.
Tweevoudig wereldkampioen Lewis had een heel erg wisselend 2020, dat resulteerde in een val naar de 21e plek op de wereldranglijst.
Desondanks gaf Taylor in een interview met The Darts Show Podcast aan dat hij denkt dat Lewis het ver kan schoppen tijdens het komende WK.
TAYLOR: "Adrian is a little bit of an outsider for me because his back is against the wall.
Every time in the past when he's been in a difficult position like that he has put the work in and dedicated himself so I expect him to come out fighting.
He must be very worried about the way he is sliding down the rankings and I think that pressure has taken its toll on his recent performances.
This year is a make or beak World Championship for a lot of big name players who are going to be defending a lot of money which they can't afford to lose from their ranking. Adrian and Gary Anderson are two of them.
There is a massive pressure on them and they'll both be very worried about their careers."
Dimitri van den Bergh won de Phil Taylor Trophy in Juli.
Buiten Lewis noemde Taylor nog een paar namen waarvan hij verwacht dat ze een goede kans hebben om de WK-titel te pakken op 3 januari.
TAYLOR: "Dimitri [Van den Bergh] seems to be playing well. He's a really lovely lad and it would be nice to see him carry on his good form.
Gerwyn Price has dropped off a little bit. Simon Whitlock seems to be making a surge at the right time. Jose de Sousa is a contender as well.
I think this is James Wade's best chance to win it with the way he played at the Grand Slam.
I think Michael [van Gerwen] is a bit vulnerable at the minute. He's playing well in flashes but not to the same consistent level he was at.
That's just down to the pressure. I know what sort of pressure he's under and I know what I would do to cure it.
This is a real test for him. There are other players coming through now, the travelling will be taking its toll on him and being away from his young family all the time."
Het William Hill World Darts Championship wordt gehouden van 15 december t/m 3 januari in het Alexandra Palace in Londen.
© Foto's: Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)