2024 World Grand Prix Monday Preview

Double in, double out. It’s time for the World Grand Prix and James Punt will be providing full coverage throughout this week on our blog. His outright preview has already been posed, read that here. You can check out his 2024 World Grand Prix Monday preview and tips below.

Josh Rock vs. Ryan Joyce

Josh rock had a very forgettable debut here last year, losing 0-2 to MVG and averaging just 74. I expect him to do better this time. Rock has won six of his last ten matches and was a semi-finalist in the Swiss Darts Trophy last weekend. He won three from six matches in the midweek Players Championship events and he is playing OK, if not his best.

Ryan Joyce won his first round match in this back in 2020, beating Peter Wright 0-2. Joyce has won seven of his last ten matches including wins over Heta and Noppert. He hit three ton plus averages and six 95+, so his A game is good, but the consistency is not that great.

Their H2H record is 1-1. Both ended 6-1, with Joyce winning their only meeting in 2024 by that score in July. It was a top quality match, Joyce averaging 111. 48, Rock 103.93. In their other match, played last year, Rock averaged 112.35, Joyce 97.19, so they have played a couple of crackers.

Rock is a slightly heavier scorer, but Joyce is the best checkout merchant in the game. If he can get in as well as he gets out, Rock could be in a spot of bother.

This is a best of three sets format, which is a bit of a leveller, but there is not much between the two in any case, just that Rock is a more ‘fashionable’ name. Joyce is not a fashionable name and tends to be underrated most of the time, and he is here.

2024 World Grand Prix Monday Tip: 1 point Ryan Joyce to win @ 2.75 with Betfred, Ladbrokes, Livescorebet

Brendan Dolan vs. Martin Schindler

Dolan is in very poor form, winning just five of his last twenty one matches. On the positive side, four of them were last week, but he has only averaged over 92 twice in his last ten, so his form is still in the dump.

Schindler, on the other hand, comes here on the back of winning the Swiss Darts Trophy last weekend, his second Euro Tour title of the year. He has won nine of his last ten matches, and the contrast in the two players’ form could not be greater.

The only player to have beaten Schindler in this event is Gerwyn Price, in the first round in 2022 and the quarter final last year. Dolan has only won two first round matches in his last eight appearances in the Grand Prix.

Schindler is the 1.53 favourite, but I will back the German to win 2-0.

2024 World Grand Prix Monday Tip: 1 point Schindler to win 2-0 @ 2.63 with Unibet

Jonny Clayton vs. Ritchie Edhouse

Clayton’s game is in decent shape. His seasonal win rate is 65% and he has won six of his last ten matches, with a decent level of consistency. His scoring is not what it once was, he is solid now rather than spectacular. He has won three of his six first round matches in this event and won the tournament in 2021.

Edhouse is making his debut so He has no experience of this unusual format. Edhouse is enjoying his best ever season, picking up £90k in prizemoney, so he will be in good fettle. His recent form is all over place. He has won five of his last ten, hit a 120.14 average in one, but also four sub 90s.

Their H2H record is 3-1 to Clayton, but Edhouse won their only match this year 6-5 on the Euro Tour back in May. Edhouse was playing really well back then and it is harder to say what you are going to get from him right now. Three of their four matches required a deciding leg, so the temptation is to go for a three set affair, but with Edhouse being so unpredictable, I am happy to sit this one out.

2024 World Grand Prix Monday Tip: No Bet

Nathan Aspinall vs. Ryan Searle

Aspinall only won two matches at last week’s Players Championship events, but his scoring was good. He is still finding his form after a long layoff and he is lacking a bit of consistency, but it is coming back.

Searle was runner up in the very recent Swiss Darts Trophy, where he didn’t play anywhere near his best stuff, his win rate in 2024 is 68% and a win is a win, even if he wasn’t playing great.

Their H2H record is 5-4 to Aspinall, with Searle winning a match last month 6-2. That was only Aspinall’s second match after a two month break with not a dart thrown. He will be better here.

Aspinall’s record is two first round wins from five in this event and he was runner up in 2022, which means he is defending £60k in ranking money. That will put a bit of additional pressure on his shoulders. Searle has won two of his four first round matches.

Searle is the 1.80 favourite, Aspinall 2.10 and being backed. We have backed Searle outright and that is enough interest for me, in what is a tricky match to call.

2024 World Grand Prix Monday Tip: No bet

Raymond van Barneveld vs. Ricardo Pietreczko

Pietreczko is making his debut and comes into the event not in great form, losing six of his last ten matches, including a 5-6 loss to Barney in the Swiss Darts Trophy just over a week ago. He has hit seven sub 90 averages and even a sub 70.

Barney is in good form, winning eight of his last ten matches and only just missed out on a Players Championship final last Thursday, losing the semi-final 6-7 to Stephen Bunting. He was a quarter finalist in the Swiss Darts Trophy and he is enjoying his darts at the moment.

Their H2H record is 1-1, both requiring a deciding leg. RVB is the 1.53 favourite, Pietreczko 2.75. Pietreczko is the best double 16 hitter in the tournament and if he can get in quickly, he could do better than the odds suggest, but I would expect Barney to progress. A small bet on a correct score will do.

2024 World Grand Prix Monday Tip: 0.5 point Van Barneveld to win 2-1@ 3.40 with Fitzdares

Luke Humphries vs. Stephen Bunting

A huge match. Two players in good form and both capable of a deep run. They are the best two players in the quarter and I fancy the winner to make the semi-final.

They met last Thursday in the final of PC26, with Humphries winning 8-7. Both players have won eight of their last ten matches and both are in great form. Arguably Bunting is in better form, having reached all three finals last week.

Their H2H record is 10-5 to Humphries and in 2024, 4-2.

Humphries is the 1.50 favourite, Bunting 2.75. There may be a bit of value in Bunting’s odds, he has only ever lost two first round matches in this event from nine appearances. We have backed Humphries outright and I am not keen to get involved in a tricky match. No bet.

2024 World Grand Prix Monday Tip: No Bet

Rob Cross vs. Luke Littler

Rob Cross has a poor tournament record, and it is likely to get worse. He has only won two matches in seven World Grand Prix appearances. His recent form is OK, winning six of his last ten.

Littler has won seven of his last ten. There has been a little inconsistency creeping in, but only a little. He is making his debut but he has taken everything thrown at him in his stride, so I expect this format to be just another thing to conquer.

Their H2H record is a pretty comprehensive 7-1 to Littler, and Cross must have let out a loud groan when the draw was made. Littler is the 1.50 favourite, Cross 2.75. Cross has a lot more experience of the format, but too much of that is experience of losing.

2024 World Grand Prix Monday Tip: 1 point Luke Littler to win 2-0 @ 2.60 with Unibet

Ross Smith vs. Gian Van Veen

Smith will be looking to make it four winning first round matches in a row at the Grand Prix. However, his recent form suggests that he may find that difficult. He has lost five of his last ten matches, with six sub 92 averages. His game is built around heavy scoring and he is struggling in that department.

Gian van Veen has also lost five of his last ten matches and while he is scoring better than Smith, he is not at his best.

Their H2H record is 2-2 and the last three have all needed a deciding leg. It does have the look of a coin toss. Smith has won their two stage matches.

We could have another close match, but it is only 2.00 for over 2.5 sets which is too short for me. No bet.

2024 World Grand Prix Monday Tip: No Bet

-JamesPunt