One of the bigger European Tour events of the season takes place this weekend when many of the global darts stars head to the rock for the Gibraltar Darts Trophy. Plenty of cash is up for grabs for the winner as well as spots in the European Championship for all those in the field.
Michael van Gerwen sits out this tournament so the event will have a new champion. His absence offers a chance for others to shine and could make this a very competitive weekend.
Recent Winners
2016 – Michael van Gerwen
2015 – Michael van Gerwen
2014 – James Wade
2013 – Phil Taylor
The Format
As ever the format for this tournament remains the same. The qualifiers have played down to the last 32 where the seeds come into the event. The last 32 is played over two sessions on Saturday with the last 16 on Sunday afternoon and the rest of the tournament played to a finish on Sunday evening. All matches are the best of 11 legs.
Top Half
With Michael van Gerwen not making the trip Peter Wright is the number one seed and is in this half as a result. Dave Chisnall and James Wade are the main seeds to oppose him with Stephen Bunting, Alan Norris, Michael Smith, Gerwyn Price and Joe Cullen completing the top names in this secion.
The qualifiers here don’t look as strong as in other events although Jonny Clayton and Rob Cross could be dangerous. Krzysztof Ratajski, Chris Quantock, Matt Clark, Christian Kist, Darren Johnson and Dimitri van den Bergh make up the runners in this half.
Bottom Half
Mensur Suljovic heads the seeds in the bottom half this week. The other seeds in the bottom half are Cristo Reyes, Benito van de Pas, Jelle Klaasen, Kim Huybrechts, Ian White, Simon Whitlock and the dangerous Daryl Gurney.
The qualifiers in this part of the draw look a lot stronger. Alan Tabern is a blast from the past but top level players in James Wilson, John Henderson, Steve Beaton and Darren Webster are in this half. James Richardson, Martin Schindler and Magnus Caris complete the line up.
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Betting
I’m going with a couple of outright bets this weekend. Although I’m not as worried about Peter Wright as I am Michael van Gerwen when he plays it still makes sense to bet in the other half to him in the aim of securing a place before we might meet Snakebite.
Jelle Klaasen has put his Premier League campaign behind him and has put in some really encouraging efforts on the European Tour this season. In the last three events he has played he has made a final and two semi-finals. In those three tournaments he has lost to Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright so given that he won’t face Wright until the final I think the Dutchman looks a solid bet this weekend.
Ian White is often dangerous in these types of tournaments and having beaten Michael van Gerwen in one of these European Tour events last month his confidence should be high. He doesn’t have the easiest draw in the world but this is one of those quarters which could open up and if he can come through it might just be his weekend.
Tips
Back J.Klaasen to win Gibraltar Darts Trophy (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with BetVictor (1/3 1-2)
Back him here:
Back I.White to win Gibraltar Darts Trophy (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 29.00 with Betfred (1/2 1-2)
Back him here:
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