The European Championship begins on Thursday night with some of the biggest names in the world of darts gracing the stage in Hasselt to get their campaigns underway. This is always a nervy night for those expected to be challenging for the title with the matches only the best of 11 legs.
Among the stars on show in the first session of the event we have Michael van Gerwen, Simon Whitlock, Mensur Suljovic and the home heroes Kim and Ronny Huybrechts.
First Four Matches
It all gets underway with one of the home players in action when Ronny Huybrechts meets Gerwyn Price while Alan Norris takes on Mervyn King in the second match of the evening in what could turn out to be the game of the night. Ian White and Darren Webster hold claims for that honour too and they play each other in the third match before John Henderson takes on Kyle Anderson.
Later Four Matches
Our outright pick Simon Whitlock begins the second half of the evening when he faces James Richardson before the real big names come out to play. Mensur Suljovic faces Kim Huybrechts in the tie of the round before Michael van Gerwen meets Jan Dekker in the penultimate match of the evening. The opening night closes with an all-Dutch battle between Jelle Klaasen and Christian Kist as two Lakeside champions meet.
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Betting
I’m not one to go mad in these best of 11 sprints but there are a couple of bets which stand out to me across the card which I’ll have a go at.
Kim Huybrechts showed a real upturn in form in the final European Tour event a couple of weeks ago when he made the semi-final. He took care of Dave Chisnall and Peter Wright along the way in that run and threw some decent darts. With home advantage and a crowd right behind him he looks a big price to overcome Mensur Suljovic. I’m a huge Suljovic fan but he can start slowly in big matches and a slow start here could cost him dearly.
The other bet looks a fairly obvious one in Jelle Klaasen to cover a 1.5 leg handicap against Christian Kist. The last time we saw Kist he was almost in tears as he fought an arm injury in the final event of the European Tour. He averaged just 66.93 in a 6-0 defeat to Jan Dekker and that was only two weeks ago so you’ve got to think he could struggle here. Klaasen is no stranger to injury himself but he is over his and should take advantage of a potentially weakened opponent.
Tips
Back K.Huybrechts to beat M.Suljovic for a 3/10 stake at 2.60 with Unibet
Back him here:
WON – Back J.Klaasen (-1.5 legs) to beat C.Kist for a 5/10 stake at 1.80 with Coral
Back him here:
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