The opening European Tour event of the season takes place this week when many of the best in the game head to Hildesheim for the German Darts Championship. Not only is the first European title of the year up for grabs but there is a significant prize pool to be won.
Recent Winners
2016 – Alan Norris
2015 – Michael van Gerwen
2014 – Gary Anderson
2013 – Dave Chisnall
2012 – Phil Taylor
2009 – Phil Taylor
2008 – Co Stompe
2007 – Phil Taylor
Top Half
As he is whenever he enters a darts tournament Michael van Gerwen is the number one seed and heads this top quarter. The other seeds in this section are Benito van de Pas, Dave Chisnall, Ian White, James Wade, Jelle Klaasen, Michael Smith and Cristo Reyes.
The qualifiers in this section include Mick McGowan, John Michael, Paul Nicholson, Jermaine Wattimena. Dimitri van den Bergh, Darren Johnson, Paul Harvey and the Dutchman Jan Dekker complete the non-seeds.
Bottom Half
The UK Open champion Peter Wright is the top seed in the bottom half of the draw in the absence of the likes of Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor. Mensur Suljovic is another seed while 2017 tournament winners Simon Whitlock and Alan Norris are seeded and in this quarter of the draw. The other seeds are Kim Huybrechts, Gerwyn Price, Joe Cullen and Stephen Bunting.
We know the identity of the eight qualifiers as well. They include David Pallett, Kevin Painter and the former world champion Christian Kist. Mervyn King is also in this part of the draw with the other qualifiers being Krzysztof Ratajski, the Brazilian Diogo Portela, Richie Corner and Jamie Bain.
Betting
There are two outright bets I like this weekend and as always I’m going to give the top half a wide berth with van Gerwen remaining untouchable at the minute. I will try and mop up the finalist in the other half of the draw and if something does happen to van Gerwen then happy days.
Simon Whitlock has already won three tournaments in 2017 so behind van Gerwen and Wright he is the hottest man in the game at the minute so quotes of 20/1 when the earliest he will face either of those is the semi-final look a little big to me. Whitlock hasn’t just done it on the floor, he was a quarter finalist in the UK Open and I think he has everything necessary to go the course and distance this weekend.
Alan Norris won this tournament last year and having already won a tournament this year and made the semi-final of the UK Open prices of 40/1 when he is in the other half to van Gerwen are just plain wrong. We know by the fact he won this tournament last year that he can take these events down and with his confidence good he should be there or thereabouts on Sunday.
Tips
Back S.Whitlock to win German Darts Championship (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 21.00 with Coral (1/3 1-2)
Back A.Norris to win German Darts Championship (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 41.00 with Coral (1/3 1-2)
Back them here:
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