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The world number one is lifting trophies on a weekly basis at the moment and should pick up another on Sunday in Germany.
Michael van Gerwen is the highest ranked player on the planet and in the best form of anyone in the sport of darts. With 10 tournament wins this year, including two in as many weeks, we are starting to look for reasons not to bet on Mighty Mike, rather than the other way round.
Reaching the final in five of his last seven competitions is testament to Van Gerwen’s consistency and it is no surprise he is the favourite heading into the European Championship.
Not only has the Dutchman got form on his side, but a favourable draw as well. The other three semi-finalists from the recent World Grand Prix; James Wade, Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting, are all in the other half of the draw, as are Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis.
This makes him worth backing to the hilt this week in Mulheim, and 2/1 represents terrific value on the Dutchman. Expect this to continue to shorten as he powers through his half and big names fall in the other side of the draw, so get on Van Gerwen early.
Elsewhere, Taylor comes in at 3/1 whilst the triumvirate of Anderson, Wade and Lewis are all priced at 12/1.
Of those four men, from which a finalist is most likely, Wade has to be the man who gets the nod having reached the final in each of his last three tournaments. The Machine looks sensational at the moment in terms of quality and fighting spirit, the latter being something he does not always show.
He beat Taylor in Dublin just a couple of weeks ago and has an excellent winning record over Lewis. At 12/1 there is no doubt that Wade is worth an each-way punt to reach a fourth consecutive final given the cracking form he has shown over the last fortnight.
