So far I’ve got Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith reprising last year’s final in this year’s semi final. That is likely to be the most common prediction for the top half, although Gary Anderson, Nathan Aspinall and maybe even Adrian Lewis might find themselves plenty of backers. The bottom half? Yikes. Actually, scrap that, find me a better word. ‘Yikes’ doesn’t do it justice. Who will come through quarter three? Hah, best of luck trying to work this out.

Form suggests Peter Wright (7) will be the man. ‘Snakebite’ has dropped down the rankings in 2019, but that has been juxtaposed against some of his best darts for a while. Wright is coming off a poor couple of years at Ally Pally and has a lot to gain from a deep run in the tournament, while the constant discussions about his frequent changes of darts seem to be less critical in recent times. Wright has Rowby-John Rodriguez or Noel Malicdem in round two (my money is on Malicdem), before a potential last 32 match against Keegan Brown (28) or Seigo Asada. Or Mickey Mansell, but there we go. Do I think Wright will come through that? Yes, yes I do.

But I do think Asada will run him close. ‘The Ninja’ is a real player, someone who is capable of doing a lot of damage on his day, as seen last year when he defeated Krzysztof Ratajski and came within a whisker of doing the same to James Wade. Keegan Brown has had a decent year, anybody who breaks into the world’s top 32 is no mug, but I’m backing Asada to come through this portion before falling just short against ‘Snakebite’ in the last 32.

There are some serious players waiting for Wright in the last 16. Dave Chisnall (10) has had a great year, reminding everyone just why he is the greatest player in history to never win a TV major. Pro tour wins and TV finals have thrust ‘Chizzy’ back into the big conversations, and he’ll be backing himself to come through a very tough little section.

And boy is it tough. Chisnall is likely to face Vincent van der Voort in round two, that is if the big Dutchman can overcome Tom Kirby Matchplay winner Keane Barry in round one. Vinnie is a strange one, capable of smashing players on his day but equally capable of imploding, making it nigh on impossible to really judge his chances. His interviews? They will be great, guaranteed. His darts? Too much for Barry, not enough for Chisnall.

Jeffrey de Zwaan (23) is another player in an interesting crossroads. I had ‘The Black Cobra’ as an outside bet for a 2020 Premier League spot, but 2019 hasn’t quite been the breakout I expected. A good run here could be the spark de Zwaan is waiting for, after a rough draw last year. Jeffrey is still only 23 so you better believe there’s plenty to come from the man from Rijswijk, but will this be his time? Maybe so, maybe not.

And then there’s the small matter of Raymond van Barneveld’s last tournament. There will be more words written about Barney, but it is difficult to detach oneself from the inherent romance of it all. The veteran gunslinger, going into battle one last time, nothing to lose, everything to gain, free of the pressure that comes with continual sporting competition. The stage is set for one last Barney run, but reality often works to a different script. It’ll be a sad end if he loses to Darin Young in round one, but I feel lit’ll be a more sedate conclusion in round two. Either way, Barney’s impact on the sport is not up for debate. If you’re talking Mount Rushmore of darts, RVB is in the discussion.

So, Wright or Chizzy from the bottom half, what about the top? Considering he is a former world champion and winner of two majors in 2019, Rob Cross (2) doesn’t seem to get the respect he deserves. ‘Voltage’ is still dismissed by some as a one hit wonder, utter nonsense if you ask anyone with even a vague understanding of the game, and he should have little bother getting past Geert Nentjes or Kim Huybrechts in round two. Steve Lennon, Callan Rydz or Danny Noppert (31) await in round three, and Cross should have too much for them too. ‘Voltage’ isn’t far from becoming one of a select few to hit a million pounds on the Order of Merit, so you can go ahead and dismiss the opinion of anyone who writes him off.

The second chunk of the third quarter is a very intriguing little section. Joe Cullen (15) will be disappointed with his 2019 but the season still brought up a European Tour victory, so is disappointment the right word? Cullen has disappointed in the Ally Pally stage in recent times, but he is another that always seems as though he is one big win away from a different level. He should get past James Wilson or Nico Kurz in round two, and the next stage of his career will hinge on round three.

Jermaine Wattimena (18) is a serious dark horse. Now the Dutch number two, Wattimena put in a seriously excellent performance in pushing Anderson all the way in 2019 (wiring the bull for a match-winning 170, if memory serves), and he is no longer the inconsistent skittish thrower of years gone by. He’ll face Luke Humphries or Devon Peterson in round two, and who knows how that one will go. Logic suggests Humphries should ride the wave of a World Youth Championships and a 2019 quarter final to overcome Devon, but the man from South Africa is more than capable of storming through. Either way, I think Wattimena will have too much for both.

So, Wright vs. Chizzy, and Cross vs. Wattimena in the last 16. I’d dearly like Chizzy to win the big one, but something tells me ‘Snakebite’ might just have found something that works for him. As for Cross and Wattimena, my heart and head say ‘Voltage’ but my fingers are typing the word ‘Wattimena’. No matter who wins that, I’m going with Peter Wright to emerge from the potential wreckage that is section three.

John Bills writes books about Eastern Europe, tomes covering history, travel, booze and the rest. These magical pieces of literary competency can be purchased at this link, so get yourself over there and do the right thing. Pay attention to the discounts.