Darts Betting Tips & Predictions

You have to feel for Gerwyn Price.

He’s got to the final of the last two major competitions, losing on both occasions to Ross Smith and Luke Humphries.

Ross Smith was just in special form that weekend at the World Series, but Price will feel as though the final of the World Grand Prix got away from him against Humphries - he won the first three sets before letting Cool Hand back into the contest.

Despite those disappointments, Price reaching back to back finals shows the level he is playing at. 

He beat James Wade and Jonny Clayton, two of the best performers this year, on the way to the World Series Finals and also had a tough run to the finals of the World Grand Prix, which is slightly different as I think the format suits Price with how good he is on tops. 

Price has avoided a first round exit in each of his last eight competitions, and has probably been the third best player overall behind Humphries and Littler without having the success to show for it.

Rob Cross threatened a comeback earlier this year, but hasn’t really maintained those levels throughout the year. Price won the only meeting between the pair this year 11-5, Cross only averaged 93.82.

Gian van Veen set a new record on the European Tour over the weekend, averaging 120.24 as he dispatched Sebastien Bialecki in Maastricht in the first round.

He played pretty well in the next two games too, before losing to fellow Dutchman Danny Noppert in the semi finals.

I’ve long felt as though Gian van Veen has been playing within himself a bit this year, which may be linked to an illness he had back in February - but he has steadily improved as the season has progressed. 

There is always the slight jeopardy of an upset in these early rounds with the short format, but Van Veen has outperformed Andrew Gilding in nearly every single metric this season. 

The scoring phase of the game is a particular concern for Gilding here, his average sits around 92.68 for the season and he has failed to average above 90 in each of his last five games.

Gian van Veen should have more than enough quality to see off Gilding here, especially seeing as Gilding has gone out in the first round in three of his last four events - while van Veen attempts to defend his title in Dortmund.

Krzysztof Ratajski is one of the most consistent players on the tour, regularly sitting around a 95/96 average which sees him get to around the Round of 16 or Quarter Finals of most events.

He struggles to raise his game beyond this impressive base, which has stopped Ratajski from going toe to toe with the very elite players. He’s taking on a player in Dave Chisnall, who has been in decline for some time.

It looks like a lot of effort for Chisnall at the moment. His movement was always a bit idiosyncratic, but it looks harsher now with his darts often dropping below the treble 20 bed.

This is harmful for Chizzy, as 180 hitting was a massive part of his game when he was at his peak. He’s still hitting 0.28 180s per leg, but the rest of his game is suffering - averaging 90.34 over the season and failing to pick up a title of any description since 2024.

Ratajski’s recent form isn’t the best, but he’ll see this as a very winnable first round tie and has picked up a title on the Euro Tour this year. 

Jonny Clayton was impressive at the World Grand Prix, beating Ratajski and Nijman before bowing out to eventual finalist and fellow Welshman, Gerwyn Price.

Clayton won a European Tour last month, beating Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries in the final two rounds. He’s clearly one of the best players on the tour, and has the experience to navigate being against a fan favourite.

Niko Springer will get all the support from the home crowd as one of the two Germans competing in Dortmund. Against a less experienced player, I could see this having an effect on Springer’s opponent - but Clayton has been in that scenario so many times before.

Keep an eye out for Clayton hitting 100+ checkouts in this game and across the tournament. He was on fire with that range at the World Grand Prix, and is skilled on the bull. It could also be a good way to quieten the crowd.

There’s a real clash of styles here, with Wattimena being an excellent scorer but a bit dodgy on the outer ring, while Joyce is the opposite - showing his best side towards the end of legs.

Wattimena has had a decent year. He picked up a Players Championship trophy, as well as reaching the final of a Euro Tour. He’s averaging 0.26 180s per leg this season, operating at a first nine average of 103.40.

Joyce is only averaging 0.16 180s per leg this season, suggesting a real gap between the two when it comes to their maximum hitting. His darts are quite thick, and can block the bed even when his first two land - so they’re not suited to regular maximum hitting.

Wattimena will know his edge is in the scoring phase of the game, and I expect him to come away with the most maximums here in a real clash of styles.

Krzysztof Ratajski is one of the most consistent players on the tour, regularly sitting around a 95/96 average which sees him get to around the Round of 16 or Quarter Finals of most events.

He struggles to raise his game beyond this impressive base, which has stopped Ratajski from going toe to toe with the very elite players. He’s taking on a player in Dave Chisnall, who has been in decline for some time.

It looks like a lot of effort for Chisnall at the moment. His movement was always a bit idiosyncratic, but it looks harsher now with his darts often dropping below the treble 20 bed.

This is harmful for Chizzy, as 180 hitting was a massive part of his game when he was at his peak. He’s still hitting 0.28 180s per leg, but the rest of his game is suffering - averaging 90.34 over the season and failing to pick up a title of any description since 2024.

Ratajski’s recent form isn’t the best, but he’ll see this as a very winnable first round tie and has picked up a title on the Euro Tour this year. 

This could be the game of the night, Cristo Reyes has done remarkably well to battle back as a PDC player having taken a few years away from the game. 

He’s still operating at a really impressive standard despite this break from darts, averaging 94.08 this season and maintaining a checkout percentage just shy of 40%. 

Aspinall is the favourite here, but such a short format could see Reyes cause the Asp real issues. Reyes has won his opening game in each of the last two Euro Tour events, and doesn’t tend to get thrashed - each of his last five defeats in this format have seen him pick up at least three legs.

We’d likely need Reyes to break Aspinall at least once in this game for this selection to land. I think he’s capable of that, in what should be a tight game as the match odds already suggest.

Jonny Clayton was impressive at the World Grand Prix, beating Ratajski and Nijman before bowing out to eventual finalist and fellow Welshman, Gerwyn Price.

Clayton won a European Tour last month, beating Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries in the final two rounds. He’s clearly one of the best players on the tour, and has the experience to navigate being against a fan favourite.

Niko Springer will get all the support from the home crowd as one of the two Germans competing in Dortmund. Against a less experienced player, I could see this having an effect on Springer’s opponent - but Clayton has been in that scenario so many times before.

Keep an eye out for Clayton hitting 100+ checkouts in this game and across the tournament. He was on fire with that range at the World Grand Prix, and is skilled on the bull. It could also be a good way to quieten the crowd.