2024 PC Finals Saturday Preview & Tips – JP
2024 PC Finals Saturday Preview
We landed some nice winners on Day one of the Players Championship finals and James Punt’s outright and quarter winner outright tips all made it through. He landed some nice match bet winners too, fingers crossed for more of the same. Check out his 2024 PC Finals Saturday preview and tips below.
Kim Huybrechts vs. Scott Williams
One of three Belgians into the second round, Huybrechts played well against Wessel Nijman, but he was lucky the real Nijman didn’t show up. It was a rare off night for Nijman and Huybrechts said thank you very much and get that up you.
Williams got us off to a losing start, beating Gian van Veen 6-5 and Gian did nothing wrong, averaging 104, but Williams kept on stealing legs with outrageous checkouts.
Huybrechts has won six of his last ten, but he had been playing some dross coming into the event, with three sub 90 and two sub 80 averages. Williams hadn’t been playing much better, with six sub 90 averages from his last ten, of which he won just three. Williams loves the limelight and he can produce the goods when the cameras are rolling.
Two players who have been playing poorly, but both light up on the TV stage. Who can keep it up, and who will revert to type? They have met twice, both on the floor and it is 1-1. Williams is the 1.88 favourite, Huybrechts 2.00. The odds look about right. No bet.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: No Bet
Cameron Menzies vs. Ryan Joyce
It was an OK performance from Menzies when he beat Jim Williams 6-2 yesterday. Williams didn’t turn up which meant it was an easy win. Menzies has won seven of his last ten matches, and he is playing well enough but nothing great.
Ryan Joyce beat Karel Sedlacek 6-4 and was a bit lucky to get through as the Czech player was very poor on his doubles, hitting just four from sixteen. A bit more accuracy and he could have been facing the Scotsman. Joyce has also won seven of his last ten matches but his OK, is not as good as Menzies’ OK.
Their H2H record is 2-0 to Menzies, but that form is a bit old with their last match back in 2022.
Menzies just needs to hit the doubles well to win. He is the heavier scorer, but Joyce can pick him off if Menzies slips up on the doubles. Menzies is the 1.73 favourite and Joyce 2.25. Neither player fires up any enthusiasm. No bet.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: No Bet
Dave Chisnall vs. Andrew Gilding
It would seem that Chisnall is feeling better. There was no sign of any back problems in his 6-1, 96.26 average, win over a hopeless Joe Cullen. It was all one way traffic and Chizzy had a stroll. It was a rare win and he has only won two of his last ten matches.
Gilding beat Kevin Doets 6-3 and he had a proper game to win. Doets played quiet well, but Gilding averaged 97.14. Goldfinger has won five of his last ten matches, and he has played some good stuff, and some dross. You have no idea of what you are going to get.
Chisnall knows that he will not get the pace of play he likes. Chizzy has played Gilding fifteen times and won ten, so he can handle The Weird One. Gilding won their only match in 2024, a 6-5 win last month, and their last four matches have been over 9.5 legs.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 2.00 generally available
Nathan Aspinall vs. Niels Zonneveld
The Asp, who scraped into the tournament as the 64th ranked player on the OOM, is into the second round after beating Chris Dobey 6-1. It said Dobey on his shirt anyway but it could have been some bloke from the pub. It was an 86 average for him and Aspinall’s 91.63 was more than enough to win. It was a really poor match with 26 missed doubles between them, in just seven legs.
Zonneveld was good in a 6-3 win over William O’Connor. The Irishman looked like he was going to win our bet, going 2-0 up in a hurry, but after that it was all Zonneveld, who averaged 97.57 and won 6-3. He has won six of his last ten matches but he tends to win a couple and then lose. Consistency is not a strong point.
They have met three times and Aspinall has won twice, including a 6-1 win last month. He averaged 107 that day, his best performance in his last fifty matches. The other two both required a deciding leg.
Two players who are lacking consistency does not make for a good betting opportunity. However, Zonneveld’s odd of 3.00 look far too big, given that Aspinall can easily put in a bad one.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: 1 point Niels Zonneveld to win @ 3.00 with BET365
Jeffrey de Graaf vs. Thibault Tricole
Tricole dumped the increasingly poor Gerwyn Price out of the tournament with a 6-4 win. He was giving Price a whipping, 5-1 up, but Price found his voice for a few legs, got it to 4-5 before Tricole hit a 14 dart leg to get it over the line. He looked like he had won the lottery and the World Championship at the same time. I suggest that he may have a bit of mental letdown today.
Jeffrey de Graaf showed great bottle to beat Ryan Searle 6-5. He was 3-5 down but he won the last three legs to nick the match at the death. He is that sort of player, never beaten.
Tricole has won seven of his last ten matches, but last night’s 95.20 was at the top end of his game, and it was his best ever performance on TV. Zonneveld has won six of his last ten matches and while his seasonal average is just un 90 (Tricole just over), he has been hitting a lot of mid 90 averages of late.
They have played twice before and De Graaf has won both, both in 2024, 6-0 and 6-3. I am happy to back De Graaf to make it 3-0.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: 1 point Jeffrey de Graaf to win @ 1.80 with SpreadEx
Damon Heta vs. Krzysztof Ratajski
The Heat put Merv King to the sword last night. He won 6-1 without having to get out of first gear. The Aussie has won seven of his last ten and he has been playing very well, and consistently so.
Ratajski beat Razma 6-4 in the first round, but he was greatly helped by Razma being poor on his doubles. It was a 96.16 average from the Pole and it was a decent, solid performance. He has lost five of his last ten matches and has not had a good season, winning just 51% of his matches.
Heta is the 1.62 favourite to improve on his 4-2 record with Ratajski. They played last month, and it was Ratajski who won 6-1. They have never met on TV, however.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: 1 point Damon Heta to win -1.5 legs @ 2.00 with Livescorebet
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Florian Hempel
Dirk averaged 99.16 in a 6-1 demolition of Callan Rydz. Hempel was able to beat a very disappointing Jonny Clayton 6-3, despite Hempel averaging just 92.91. Both were poor on the outer ring but give Hempel a sniff of a chance and he takes it.
Dirk has won six of his last ten matches and he is playing some good stuff. He does get a bit het up at times, but if he just keeps his head down, he is good enough to win this. Hempel has won six of his last ten matches and he too has played some good stuff, but he is not as consistent as Van Duijvenbode.
Their H2H record is 2-1 to Dirk and when he has won his first round match here in the past, he has gone on to reach the quarter final (2020, 2022). He is the 1.52 favourite to do so. He should do so, but the odds make no appeal. No bet.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: No Bet
Daryl Gurney vs. Michael Smith
Smith wasn’t happy about having to play down the dungeon last night, but he still won his match with late call up Nick Kenny 6-5. He survived two match darts and was a bit of a lucky boy to get through. Daryl Gurney did a proper job on Peter Wright. No mercy, smashed him up 6-1 and averaged 108.81.
Gurney has won six of his last ten matches and last night’s average was his best for the last 12 months. Smith has won six of his last ten matches, but he has not looked in great nick and I suggest that his imminent job of defending £500k in prizemoney is on his mind.
Their H2H record is 11-7 to Smith, Gurney won their only match in 2024 6-5 and they met here last year and Gurney won that 6-5. If my memory serves me well, that was a match were Smith was winning easily, missed a few doubles and fell to bits.
Smith is the 1.73 favourite, Gurney 2.28. Gurney is not a model of consistency, but maybe that season’s best performance is a sign that back on the stage where he won the title in 2018, he is up for it. Smith on the other hand looks a bit frustrated and not quite at the races.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: 1 point Daryl Gurney to win @ 2.28 with Livescorebet
Mario Vandenbogaerde vs. Conor Scutt
Super Mario was the surprise 6-2 winner against the much fancied Stepehen Bunting last night. Surprise of a night of surprises? I would say so. He averaged 95.62 and played well. He is a good player, just not very often. He did make the third round here on debut last year, so he won’t be lacking confidence.
Connor Scutt beat last week’s hero, Martin Lukeman, 6-4 and maybe that was to be expected. Lukeman admitted that he was exhausted by last week’s final day. He says he will now go on a diet, lose weight, get down the gym in order to be able to cope with a long day’s play better.
Scutt averaged 98.98 and that is the kind of game that his supporters rave about. There is no doubting his A game, it is his B game that needs work. He opened his Grand Slam campaign with a 104 average last week but followed it up with a couple of mid 80s.
That is the problem with him as a betting object right now, he lacks consistency. He has won seven of his last ten matches, some of that at Challenge Tour level, and at senior level he is four wins from his last ten.
These two have never met before. Scutt is the 1.44 favourite, Mario 3.20. I have to give Mario a better chance than that. Scutt could win 6-0 if he plays his A game, but if he has a mid-80s game, Vandenbogaerde would be favourite. I feel that his could be closer than the odds suggest.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: 1 point Mario Vandenbogaerde to win +1.5 legs @ 2.18 with Livescorebet
Raymond van Barneveld vs. Luke Humphries
Humphries was OK when beating Clemens 6-2 last night. The German was very poor on the doubles, otherwise it could have been close. Luke has won seven of his last ten matches and he will have been happy with the win, on a night where so many big names went out. He is going to have to play better if he is to entertain any idea about winning the title.
Barney was good in his 6-2 win over Chris Landman. He averaged 98.06 and while he didn’t beat much, he did the job well. He has won five of his last ten matches and I don’t expect a deep run, but could he cause Luke any problems?
Their H2H record suggests that he can. He is 4-3 vs. Humphries, won their last two matches and four of their last five. The first to six format gives him a chance.
Humphries is the 1.29 favourite and Barney 4.33. Given that H2H record, I am happy to have a go at those odds.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: 1 point Raymond van Barneveld to win @ 4.33 with BET365
Danny Noppert vs. Stephen Burton
Burton put James Wade out in the first round in another surprise. I though Wade might have a problem but didn’t back it up with hard cash. Bugger. It was a poor match with both payers averaging 87.
Noppert came through a very tough match against James Hurrell. It was Hurrell who had the best average, a 97.84, but Noppert came from 3-5 down to snatch it. Two 13 dart legs and 15 to finish was quality by Noppert.
This looks set up for Noppert to have another run to a quarter final, the big problem being that he will very likely meet Littler in the third round. He is the 1.30 favourite to win and his H2H record with Burton is 8-2. He has won their last six in a row. He has won two of their last five 6-2 and I’ll go for a hat trick.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: 0.5 point Danny Noppert to win 6-2 @ 6.00 with SpreadEx
Josh Rock vs. Jermaine Wattimena
Our man Rock beat Ricky Evans 6-2, averaging 96.31. It was a solid display but he missed 16 doubles, and that needs to improve. Rock has won eight of his last ten matches and is playing with a good deal of consistency.
Wattimena has won seven of his last ten matches, but he has not shown the consistency of Rock. He is winning ugly, and by improving his B game, he is a better player, and a more confident player. He did make harder work of Alan Soutar than he should have, and some of his matches have seen pretty poor averages.
Their H2H record is 2-2, Rock has won their last two, including one in September. Three of their four, and their last three, have ended 6-4.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 1.91 generally available
Mike De Decker vs. Ian White
Ian White turned back the clock, averaged 102.68 to beat Van Gerwen 6-1. It was great performance and made me wonder, where has he been? White has won five of his last ten matches. He has hit just five ton plus averages in his last 50 matches, and went back to back with two 103s last month, and two 101s in September. Is that a hint that he might go well again here?
De Decker averaged 93 as he cantered to a 6-1 win over Richard Veenstra. He has won six of his last ten matches and is in good form.
Their H2H record is 4-3 to De Decker, who has won their last three, including two this season, 6-2 and 6-4.
De Decker is the 1.44 favourite, White 2.90. The odds look about right and while I tempted on a handicap bet on White, but the odds are not good enough. No bet.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: No Bet
Luke Littler vs. Ritchie Edhouse
The winners of the last two Major championships going head to head, but one is a 1.20 favourite. Guess which one?
Littler beat Rob Cross 6-0, averaged 112 and Cross averaged 100, so it looks like a case of praying for Ritchie. Littler has averaged over 102 in his last eight matches.
Their H2H record is 1-0 to Littler, a 6-5 win the UK Open last year. I’ll pass on this one.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: No Bet
Ryan Meikle vs. Martin Schindler
Meikle was another giant killer last night, dumping out Gary Anderson 6-5, despite averaging 94.43 to Anderson’s 103.88. I don’t think he could quite believe it. Schindler beat a very poor Brendan Dolan 6-1, and he could have done it with two darts in his hand.
Meikle has won five of his last ten matches and he is a very inconsistent player, and very hard to call. Schindler has won six of his last ten matches. He averaged 109.15 in a 2-5 loss to Danny Noppert at the Grand Slam, but outside of that and a 98 against Beau Greaves, he hasn’t impressed.
Their H2H record is 5-4 to Meikle and in 2024 1-1, and at senior level, 2-2. That suggests we have an open match here. The market has Schindler as the 1.50 favourite and Meikle 2.95. The money is going down on Meikle and I shall be following it.
2024 PC Finals Saturday Tip: 1 point Ryan Meikle to win @ 2.95 with Livescorebet
Ross Smith vs. Wesley Plaisier
Our big outsider bet to win the quarter, Wesley Plaisier, was OK in his 6-4 win over Suljovic and hopefully that settles him into the event. He can play better, but a 95 average is fine. He has won eight of his last ten matches at senior level, including winning PC28 last month.
Ross Smith thrashed Dimitri van den Bergh 6-1 and averaged 104.73. That is more like the Ross Smith we like to see, but please not today. He hit five maximums, for his second match in a row, and that is a sign that he is playing well.
Their H2H record is 2-1 to Smith, including a 8-7 win in the final of PC13 back in July. That was a humdinger with Smith averaging 107 to Plaisier’s 104. There were twelve 180s in the match, nine by Smith. Hopefully get another classic.
