2025 Belgian Darts Open Friday Preview

James Punt has already posted an outright betting preview for this event, read that here. Check out his 2025 Belgian Darts Open Friday preview below.

Ritchie Edhouse vs. Owen Bates

Edhouse is the outsider here, and I struggle see how he can be, outside of having more experience. We made plenty of withdrawals from the Bank of Edhouse last year on the Euro Tour, but he has got off to a terrible start in 2025.

I don’t know if he is injured, but he has lost seven of his last ten matches and he has not hit a 90+ average since the Players Championship finals last November. The last time he did was a 105 average in a 2-6 loss to Luke Littler. Maybe the Littler experience has traumatised him.

Owen Bates is playing on the Pro Tour and Development tour in 2025. He is averaging 88.74 overall, but in his nine Players Championship matches he has averaged 93.08.

These two have met twice and it is one win each, with both played in 2024 and both ending 6-2. The way Edhouse has been playing, this looks to be a coin toss, and maybe Bates should be favourite? He played in three Euro Tour events in 2024, winning two matches in ET8, beating Cullen and Noppert.

2025 Belgian Darts Open Friday Tip: 1 point Owen Bates to win @ 2.20 generally available

Ricardo Pietreczko vs. Matthew Dennant

Pikachu is not in great form, losing five of his last ten matches. He has hit five sub 93 averages in those ten and while he does play well on occasions, he is not playing with much consistency. His seasonal average is just over 91.

Dennant has won six of his last ten matches and is averaging 90.92 in 2025. He is not a heavy hitter and he would need Pietreczko to have one of his low scoring performances, but he may well get one. His Euro Tour record in 2024 was played two and lost two, so he may be better backed on the handicap here.

2025 Belgian Darts Open Friday Tip: 1 point Dennant to win +1.5 legs @ 1.73 with Boylesports

Daryl Gurney vs. Thibault Tricole

It has been a poor start for Superchin in 2025. He has a win rate of just 45% and has lost six of his last ten matches, including his last three in a row. He is yet to hit a ton plus average in 2025 and his average across his last three matches was just 85.12.

His doubling is to blame, with an average checkout percentage of just 19.76%. And it is not just in his last three matches. He is just not playing well and his seasonal average is only 90.34.

Tricole is a journeyman pro and should be meat and drink for a player of Gurney’s stature. However, given Gurney’s lack of form, Tricole has a decent chance here. The Frenchman has won six of his last ten matches, is averaging 89.13 in 2025, so not far off Superchin in 2025. He is winning a few more matches.

Gurney won their only previous match 6-3, but that was back in 2022. The former Northern Irish number 1 is the 1.47 favourite with Tricole 2.90.

2025 Belgian Darts Open Friday Tip: 1 point Tricole +1.5 legs to win @ 2.10 with Betfair

Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Darius Labanauskas

Dirk must be going mad with frustration. He keeps on hitting big averages and losing. His win rate in 2025 is just 42%. In his last five defeats, he has lost in the deciding leg four times, and the other was 8-10. Has he developed a mental block in close finishes? It looks like his confidence is in the bin, and he never has been the strongest mentally.

Lucky D is a fringe player these days. He has played six Players Championship matches in 2025 and won just two, and not against anyone of note.

Van Duijvenbode is the 1.33 favourite, with Labanauskas 3.50. Dirk should be far too good for the low scoring Labanauskas, but it is a first to six leg match and playing an afternoon session, while in poor form, makes things tricky for Dirk. If Lucky D can stick with him, Dirk might well get tight again.

2025 Belgian Darts Open Friday Tip: 1 point Darius Labanauskas + 1.5 legs to win @ 2.40 with Boylesports

-JamesPunt