The ninth and final European Tour event of the darts calendar takes place this weekend as 48 of the best players on the globe head to Sindelfingen in Germany for the European Darts Grand Prix.
Not only is a title up for grabs this weekend but a significant prize pool to boost chances for qualifying for the major tournaments coming up is also available for those yet to secure their spots in certain events.
The format for this tournament is the same as the eight preceding European Tour events with the 16 seeded players going through to the second round with the other 16 players playing 16 qualifiers on Friday for the right to face the seeds on Saturday. All matches are the best of 11 legs.
This is a tournament which a number of big names have decided to swerve and as such there is no Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis or Gary Anderson so there is a bit of a lop-sided look to the draw. Michael van Gerwen is in the field and is the obvious favourite.
Although he lost the World Grand Prix final I’m still in no rush to take on van Gerwen so my outright picks for this event will come in the other half of the draw where the big names are few and far between so there is the potential for a surprise to come through at some point.
Robert Thornton won the World Grand Prix in fine style last week and while the quirk of that tournament was needing to hit a double to start and one to finish his scoring in between those doubles was very good and that gives me the impression he can go well this weekend.
When Thornton won his previous two majors he followed it up with runs to the semi-final of a tournament the following week so he clearly gets a lift from winning big events and why shouldn’t he? He should have taken a lot of confidence from his win last week and in a section of the draw which could be much harder I’m inclined to take the Scot this week.
I’m going to go for a bit of a longshot for my second pick in this tournament because one person appears to have hit a lovely part of the draw.
That person is the improving Welshman Gerwyn Price. We don’t know who Price will face on the opening day of the tournament but it will be a European player so as long as he has dodged Max Hopp he’s likely to be favourite to come through.
If he does come through then we know he goes very well as an underdog. Michael Smith is the main seed in his section of the draw and he’s already beaten him in the World Matchplay and had match darts to beat him in the World Grand Prix too so he won’t fear Smith.
Price made the quarter finals of a European Tour event earlier in the season and he’s kicked on since then and with a draw which he’ll relish I’m willing to take a chance on him at a three figure price.
Back R.Thornton to win European Darts Grand Prix (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 21.00 with Sportingbet (1/2 1-2)
Back G.Price to win European Darts Grand Prix (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 126.00 with Sportingbet (1/2 1-2)
