Another weekend has arrived which means another European Tour event takes place with the darts roadshow heading to Riesa in Germany for the International Darts Open, the penultimate event on the European circuit.
That means that every pound is crucial for those hunting down a place in the European Championship at the end of October. There is no Michael van Gerwen this weekend either which may well open everything up for so many.
Recent Winners
2017 – Peter Wright
2016 – Mensur Suljovic
2015 – Michael Smith
The Format
We all know the format by now. Saturday sees the last 32 played over two sessions as a seeded player faces a qualifier over the best of 11 legs. Sunday afternoon is the last 16 over the same distance while Sunday evening consists of the best of 11 quarter finals, best of 13 semi-finals and a best of 15 final to determine the winner from a draw which has been pre-determined.
Top Half
Mensur Suljovic, winner of this in 2016, is the leading seed in the top half but Ian White will be looking for back-to-back titles from this position. The other seeds in this half are Dave Chisnall, Simon Whitlock, Max Hopp, Joe Cullen and Darren Webster.
There are a load of qualifiers in this part of the draw with Danny Noppert probably headlining them. Jermaine Wattimena, Ryan Joyce, Mickey Mansell, Ross Smith, Steve Beaton, James Wilson, James Richardson and Jelle Klaasen are the other players looking to take advantage of what feels like a very open weekend.
Bottom Half
In the absence of Michael van Gerwen it is Peter Wright who is the top seed and favourite to defend his title successfully. His half of the draw looks absolutely loaded with seeds though with Kim Huybrechts, Gerwyn Price, Daryl Gurney, Stephen Bunting, Adrian Lewis, Mervyn King and Jonny Clayton all capable of going deep into this tournament.
Home hope Martin Schindler is among the qualifiers in this part of the draw with Ryan Searle looking to continue his good form. John Henderson, Robert Marijanovic, Barry Lynn, Terry Jenkins, Steve West and Steve Lennon complete what is a tasty looking section which should deliver us some outstanding action.
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Betting
I’ll go with a man in each half of the draw this weekend in the absence of Michael van Gerwen. In the top half I want to be on Joe Cullen. He has made the semi-final and the quarter final of the last two of these events since his excellent run in the World Matchplay. The semi-final defeat was to Michael van Gerwen who was insanely good and the quarter final loss was to Ricky Evans in a deciding leg. Cullen is due in one of these things. He made the semis of this tournament last year and at 18/1 I think he’s the man to beat in the top half.
In the bottom half of the draw I’ll go with Kim Huybrechts who seems to like this tournament. He has been in the final of it in each of the last two years so I’ll go for it to be third time lucky for the Hurricane, who looked much improved in the World Matchplay and who is capable of beating anyone when he clicks into gear. He’ll know he needs a huge weekend and at 50/1 I’ll pay to see if he can produce it.
Tips
Back J.Cullen to win International Darts Open (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 19.00 with William Hill (1/2 1-2)
Back K.Huybrechts to win International Darts Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 51.00 with William Hill (1/2 1-2)
Back them here:
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