PDC World Championship - Preview Part 1
German speaking Players
During the PDC World Championship 2017 three Austrian and two German players will stand at the Oche. Mensur Suljovic, Rowby-John Rodriguez and Max Hopp qualified by the ranking and will begin the tournament in Round 1 while Zoran Lerchbacher and Dragutin Horvat will play their first matches as winner of Superleagues Eastern and Germany in Preliminary Round.
Dragutin Horvat is the only debutant of the five players, but that doesn't help to predicate his chances. Rene Eidams - as well a debutant last year - almost eliminated Michael van Gerwen from the tournament. Horvats Preliminary Round opponent is Russian Boris Koltsov who already has experience in the Ally Pally and who won the Russian qualifier. But Horvat is not without a chance in this match. His next opponent would be Simon Whitlock who looks like he's on the way back to his form. During the Grand Slam he didn't really convince. But for Horvat Whitlock will probably be to strong - should Whitlock not have a very bad day at the oche.
Zoran Lerchbacher will play against the not really known PDPA qualifier Simon Stevenson who is slowly moving up the rankings. That should be a well-balanced match. Lerchbacher's First Round opponent would be Robert Thornton and one just doesn't now what to await from him. Should he have a good day, Lerbacher will not have a chance. Should he play as weak as he does quite often at the moment Lerchbacher's next opponent would be either Daryl Gurney or Jermaine Wattimena and in the Third Round he might meet his fellow country man Mensur Suljovic and I would say at least then the World Championship will be over for Lerchbacher.
Mensur Suljovic's way into the Third Round to be sure is doable. Ron Meulenkamp in First Round, in Second Round the winner of Mark Webster v Joe Murnan. He could beat them all even though he showed no good performances during the Grand Slam but he had a cold at the time. He's a chance to survive the Third Round as well. But in the quarterfinals his opponent probably will be Michael van Gerwen who should till than be well attuned and who is determined to win the title. I don't feel that Suljovic will be the player to hinder him.
Max Hopp will play against Vincent van der Voort first. You can only guess in what form he is. But Hopp didn't play a great year this year either. Should he win Kim Huybrechts or James Wilson will wait for him. When Huybrechts shows a good performance Hopp will have no chance. Should Wilson play as he did in some parts of the Grand Slam it's the same. But should Hopp survive in Round Three he would meet Jamie Caven or Kevin Painter - both not really in form - though both more cunning than Hopp. To be sure Hopp would not survive the quarterfinals - he's not yet capable to beat either van Barneveld or Taylor should they not have pitch black day.
Rowby-John Rodriguez is the only German speaking player in the other half of the draw and will neither be confronted with van Gerwen or Taylor or van Barneveld should he not reach the final which is not realistic. It is more probably he will lose First Round as he has the most difficult opponent of all German speaking players - Dave Chisnall. The Second Round would be a little bit easier with Pipe or Dobey. After that probably Jelle Klaasen would wait - and I feel he's not able to overcome him yet.