There is barely a weekend that a darts player doesn’t have a tournament to participate in and this one is no different as 32 of the leading players in the game head to Hildesheim in Germany for the German Darts Championship.
As ever with these European Tour events we’ve had the battle of the qualifiers on Friday and we already know who the seeded players will face and perhaps more importantly when looking at the tournament from an outright point of view we know the whole draw which isn’t always the case when these things begin.
The Format
I’m sure everyone is aware of how these things work by now but those who are new to darts betting the 16 seeds meet 16 qualifiers in the first round of the tournament and the draw is played out in a knockout style with every match over the best of 11 legs. The last 32 is played on Saturday and the tournament concludes with the rest of the event on Sunday.
Top Quarter
The draw is a little upside down this week and it is the third seed Dave Chisnall who heads the seeding in this part of the draw. In terms of seeds he is joined by Michael Smith, Simon Whitlock and Terry Jenkins.
In terms of qualifiers in this part of the draw Mark Webster is a danger to anyone and on his best game Justin Pipe can be too. Peter Hudson and Andy Smith make up the rest of this section of the draw.
Second Quarter
Peter Wright, the second seed, is the main player in this part of the draw but with Benito van de Pas, Jelle Klaasen and Joe Cullen all in this area of the draw there is a very young feel to it.
The qualifiers opposing them are Rowby-John Rodriguez, Cristo Reyes, Robert Allenstein and Eddie Dootson so overall there is a very European feel about this quarter and it will be interesting to see who comes through.
Third Quarter
As ever this section is probably the most competitive one. Ian White is the highest seed in the quarter but Kim Huybrechts isn’t too far behind him. Stephen Bunting and Alan Norris make sure this will be a strong quarter.
Among those looking to come through ahead of them is one of the form men of the moment in Steve West, Kevin Painter, Ted Evetts and Scott Taylor. You would think the seeds will be ok there but these things rarely play out to logic.
Bottom Quarter
Michael van Gerwen will be looking to follow up his World Grand Prix win with another win this weekend and he’ll be trying to do it from this part of the draw. Mensur Suljovic, Gerwyn Price and Daryl Gurney are the main men looking to oppose him.
Darren Johnson, Ron Muelenkamp and Dave Pallett are three of the qualifiers in this quarter with the other one being Robbie Green who has set up a tantalising match with Michael van Gerwen in the last 32 on Saturday.
Betting
I’m not going too mad in this tournament because MVG is looking more and more unstoppable by the day but someone has to face him and move likely lose to him in the final and we’ll try and find that man in the hope we get it right and get a decent pay out from him even if he doesn’t actually win the tournament.
The man I like is Simon Whitlock. He has been playing well for a little while now. He won a tournament just prior to the World Grand Prix beginning and he played well in that double start event before running into a rampant MVG in the quarter final but he did nothing wrong in that match and had moments where he was on top in it.
Whitlock wouldn’t see the Dutchman until the final were both to get there in this tournament and that is very much a positive so for me Whitlock represents excellent value at 33/1 given his recent form and his draw.
Tips
Back S.Whitlock to win German Darts Championship (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with Coral (1/3 1-2)
Back him here:
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