The PDC European Tour sees us rock into Austria this weekend for the Austrian Darts Open and after a hugely successful double header of action in the Premier League Darts in Rotterdam in midweek it is clear to see that European darts is thriving right now. We are likely to see that continuing here.
As he did most tournaments, Michael van Gerwen won the title last year but he pulled out of the event in the lead up to it this year which has given the event a really open look to it. Peter Wright is the favourite for success.
Recent Winners
2017 – Michael van Gerwen
2016 – Phil Taylor
2014 – Vincent van der Voort
2013 – Michael van Gerwen
2012 – Justin Pipe
The Format
With this being the fourth European Tour event of the season the format should be becoming a little clearer now. The 16 seeds take on one of the 16 qualifiers in the last 32 on Saturday over the best of 11 legs before the last 16 is played on Sunday afternoon over the same distance. The tournament concludes on Sunday evening with the quarter finals over the best of 11, the semis over a possible 13 legs and the champion will be determined in a race to eight.
Top Half
With Michael van Gerwen out of the picture it is the world champion Rob Cross who is the leading seed in the top half of the draw. He is yet to make a final of a European Tour event this season and has only made one semi which will keep the likes of Michael Smith, Steve Beaton, Gerwyn Price, Dave Chisnall, Benito van de Pas, Joe Cullen and Mervyn King interested.
Michael Barnard is one of the qualifiers in the top half although all eyes may be on Dimitri Van den Bergh to see how he is going. Steve Lennon is making a name for himself while Jason Cullen could have a big week. Wayne Jones is back on the big stage this week while Scott Taylor, Steve West and Luke Humphries make up the numbers.
Bottom Half
Peter Wright is the top seed in the tournament after the withdrawal of MVG and he is in the bottom half this week. With MVG out of the way though the likes of Daryl Gurney, Ian White, Simon Whitlock and Mensur Suljovic will all be eyeing up a huge tournament. Darren Webster, Jelle Klaasen and Jonny Clayton will hope to get stuck in too.
Last week’s winner Max Hopp and James Wade are two qualifiers nobody wanted and they are both in the Peter Wright quarter. Adam Hunt, Brendan Dolan and Cristo Reyes have made it all the way through to this stage. Darius Labanauskas, Richie Burnett and Ron Meulenkamp complete the draw this weekend.
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Betting
I’ll go with two bets this weekend. The first is on Ian White who is no stranger to winning these short and sharp events. He must have thought he was going to win last week’s tournament when he took out Michael van Gerwen in the quarter final but the emotion of that win obviously took it out of him and he lost in the semi-final. He won’t have that problem this week and if Wright fails to make the quarter final this draw could open right up for White. Not only did he make the semis last week but he won a tour event on the floor last month so he’s in decent form and 25/1 is a more than acceptable price in the circumstances.
I took Luke Humphries last week and he annoyingly lost in a deciding leg to Joe Cullen but I’m nothing if not guilty of persevering and I’m going to take the youngster yet again. He averaged a ton yet again on Friday in his win and Steve Beaton looks a fair draw in the last 32. Admittedly it could get tougher when Rob Cross could be lurking in the last 16 but we’re getting 80/1 on him for a reason. If he or Steve West can take care of Cross the draw opens right up so I think he’s worth another go this weekend.
Tips
Back I.White to win Austrian Darts Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Ladbrokes (1/2 1-2)
Back L.Humphries to win Austrian Darts Open (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Ladbrokes (1/2 1-2)
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