2024 European Darts Open R2 Preview

Now, it is time for James Punt’s 2024 European Darts Open R2 preview. Three from four this afternoon, here’s hoping for more of the same.

Rob Cross vs. Michael Smith

Smith had to survive a match dart against him before beating James Wade 6-5 last night. It was a proper game of darts with both players averaging in the high 90s.

Cross has been in great form, winning eight of his last ten matches. He also has a very good record against Smith, leading their H2H record 20-6. Cross is 3-0 in 2024, both 6-4 wins in the PL.

I don’t like getting involved in Cross’ matches, but I’ll have a small bet on the correct score, and another 6-4. That has been the score in three of their last four best of eleven leg matches. The other was a 6-5 and an overs bet looks sensible here.

2024 European Darts Open R2 Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 1.91 generally available

2024 European Darts Open R2 Tip: 0.5 point Rob Cross to win 6-4 @ 6.50 generally available

Peter Wright vs. Ritchie Edhouse

The Bank of Edhouse is open for business. Ritchie got off to a good start, if a bit off beam on some doubles, beating Jan Dueckers 6-0. The average was just 84, but that was due to a 23 dart first leg and a 21 dart fifth leg. He will need to be a bit sharper tonight but he is in fine form on the Euro Tour, winning thirteen of his eighteen matches.

Peter Wright has lost five of his last ten matches and on the Euro Tour, he has played eleven and won four. He did average 109 in defeat in his last match, a 3-6 loss to Luke Littler in a World Series match, so he cannot be totally dismissed. He is 3-1 against Edhouse but they have never met with Edhouse in this sort of form.

The 1.91 that was available last night has gone (I can’t think why) but his best odds of 1.83 are good enough. The question is, what is the stake? A 2 pointer was tempting, but I suspect that this could be a bit too close for that sort of stake. Edhouse is not playing at quite the same level as he was a month or two ago.

2024 European Darts Open R2 Tip: 1 point Ritchie Edhouse to win @ 1.83 with Betfred

Josh Rock vs. Dimitri van den Bergh

Rock won the last Euro Tour event and has won eight of his last ten matches. That will help his confidence, but his consistency does leave something to be desired. He has hit four ton plus averages in his last ten, but also a couple of sub 90s.

These two met in ET5, with Rock edging it 6-5 and averaging 102. Dimitri is 3-2 overall vs Rock and, on the Euro Tour, it is 1-1.

Van den Bergh has not been in great form for much of 2024, but he won the UK Open and he won PC12 last week. It was a funny event and he won it despite averaging sub 90s in the last two matches. He can get on good runs when his head is in the right place. He started this weekend off in excellent style, averaging 109 in a 6-1 win over Ryan Meikle.

Recent Winners

Two recent title winners, both have won eight of their last ten matches and hopefully we can get a great match to end the night. Their only match this year ended 6-5 and we could get another close one.

Rock is the 1.83 favourite, Van den Bergh 2.08. It looks like a coin toss to me and I will sit on the fence and bet on the overs. Seven of the eight matches this afternoon ended over 9.5 legs, and this has the look of a close one.

2024 European Darts Open R2 Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 2.10 with Betfair

That is it from me with the darts this weekend. The Formula 1 needs full attention tomorrow.

It is the World Cup of Darts next week. There will be a preview on Wednesday, but I will not be doing much betting on it during the tournament. I don’t like the format betting wise, so there will be some outright bets and that is likely to be that, unless anything juicy pops up.

-JamesPunt