The European Darts Open began in Dusseldorf on Friday but with the way the European Tour events are scheduled these days for many the tournament really begins on day two when the seeds come and join the party and in this particular tournament that is on Saturday.
With the World Matchplay beginning next weekend a number of the top level names have decided against entering this tournament which could open the door for someone else to come in and nick a valuable title and plenty of prize money.
One man who will be out to deny those chasing the title is the number one seed Michael van Gerwen and as always he is the man to beat. He starts off as the 5/4 favourite with Betfred.
MVG might not have things all his way this weekend. His half of the draw is like a tournament in itself. You would expect him to beat Jamie Lewis in the last 32 but then he could come up against the man who beat him in the last European event in Benito van de Pas.
Were he to come through that then the likes of Ian White, Alan Norris, Mervyn King or Wes Newton would await in the quarter final before a semi-final against someone like Kim Huybrechts, Terry Jenkins or Michael Smith so his route to the final contains many stumbling blocks.
Given how tough that top half of the draw looks it might pay to avoid that area of the tournament and instead head down to the bottom half for an outright bet.
The bottom quarter itself looks like another mini tournament with recent Players Championship event winner Jelle Klaasen facing Dave Chisnall in the last 32 with Peter Wright, Devon Petersen, Simon Whitlock and Robert Thornton all in that section too. I’ll leave that bit alone and go after the third quarter.
James Wade is the standout player in this section of the draw and to be honest it is hard to see him not making the semi-final at the very least. He will have a tough match should he get there but he should be fresher than his opponent in that match having had an easier ride along the way.
Wade should come past Dirk van Duijvenbode in the last 32 on Saturday and you would be surprised if Steve Beaton or Mark Webster troubled him in the last 16. Rowby-John Rodriguez could be a tricky customer in the quarter final but he has to come past Vincent van der Voort, Justin Pipe and Kevin McDine to make it that far.
Usually I’m not one for single figure prices for outright bets in tournaments but I can make an exception here given Wade’s draw. Wade won a tour event last weekend and has only failed to make the quarter final in two of his last 12 events so I’m happy he’s in the form to go well at this price.
Back J.Wade to win European Darts Open (e/w) for a 2/10 stake at 8.50 with Boylesports (1/2 1-2)
