2025 European Championship R2 Preview

Now, it is time for James Punt’s 2025 European Championship R2 preview. He landed some more nice winners last night, including a tasty two pointer on Nathan Aspinall. Let’s hope for more of the same in round two.

Ryan Searle vs. Gian van Veen

Searle was able to take advantage of some poor doubling from Jonny Clayton in round one. It was a poor match which Searle won 6-3. There were some great matches in round one, but that was not one of them. Searle has won six of his last ten matches but it would be a push to say he is playing anywhere near his best.

Gian van Veen averaged 98.73 in his 6-3 win over Damon Heta. It was a good performance but left me with the impression that he could do better. It was just an average performance, but more than enough to get through.

Searle has never got beyond the second-round stage in his four visits to the European Championships and he is the 3.20 outsider to change that record today. The market has Van Veen as the 1.40 favourite and it is hard to see him not progressing to the next round.

Searle is 4-3 in terms to their H2H record, but he would really need to find his A game, and even then that might not be enough.

2025 European Championship R2 Tip: 1 point under 16.5 legs @ 1.91 generally available

Daryl Gurney vs. Ross Smith

Superchin didn’t have to be anywhere near his best when beating Gerwyn Price 6-3 in round one. Price was very poor on the outer ring and Gurney was very good on the outer ring. Scoring wise, it was a poor match. Gurney will need a more complete performance today.

Ross Smith beat Peter Wright 6-2 and it was an easy job. Wright only averaged 93.61and while Smith wasn’t firing on all cylinders, he did enough in what was a pretty poor match.

We really didn’t learn much about either player in round one. Both had easy, but underwhelming wins. Both players have won five of their last ten matches, neither is in good form, but somebody has to win.

H2H

Their H2H record is 7-5 to Daryl Gurney and he is 2-0 in 2025, including a recent win the Grand Prix. Gurney was good on his doubles in round one and he was very good on his doubles in both wins over Smith this year. He used to be known as a big 180 hitter, but he is a very good double hitter these days.

It is Smith who is the better 180 hitter nowadays, but he only hit one in round 1 and hit none in his match with Gurney at the Grand Prix. Smudger needs to outscore Gurney if he is to win as Superchin is likely to take his chances more efficiently than Smith.

Ross smith is the 1.55 favourite to win, Gurney 2.63. This looks like a bit of a coin toss to me and as such, Gurney makes more sense at the odds.

2025 European Championship R2 Tip: 1 point Daryl Gurney to win @ 2.63 with BET365, Skybet, Livescorebet

Martin Schindler vs. Ryan Joyce

Schindler has really been leaning on the home crowds in the last week. He needed them to help pull off a big come from behind win against William O’Connor in the German Darts Championship last weekend, and he was 0-3 down against Dave Chisnall in the first round here on Thursday.

Can he keep on dodging bullets? These matches are best of nineteen legs and it is harder to steal wins in longer matches. Schindler is playing some good stuff and he did catch fire against Chisnall, but ultimately, Chisnall blew it.

Joyce played quite well in his 6-3 win over Luke Woodhouse in round 1. He went to sleep a bit in the middle of the match, but he was comfortably the better player, averaging 96.93. Joyce has won six of his last ten matches. His consistency leaves a lot to be desired, but he does look like his game is coming to the boil.

H2H

Their H2H record is 4-3 to Schindler and he beat Joyce 6-2 last month in ET12. Joyce was very poor that day and Schindler very good. Joyce is playing better now and should make a match of this.

Schindler is the 1.62 favourite, Joyce 2.30. Neither player is banker material right now but I am going to take a chance on Joyce. He played some great stuff last weekend and if he can bring that game to the oche, he wins, hostile crowd or not.

2025 European Championship R2 Tip: 1 point Ryan Joyce to win @ 2.30 generally available

Chris Dobey vs. Michael van Gerwen

MVG survived seven match darts from Wessel Nijman in round one. The youngster shat the bed when faced with an open goal. It is all part of the learning process I guess, but MVG was very lucky to get through. He played well and it was a high-quality contest, but Nijman blew it.

MVG is not having a good season but he is playing well. He has won six of his last ten matches and hit five ton plus averages. He is not as confident a player has he was in his prime, but he is still playing at a very high level.

Chris Dobey was very impressive in his 6-3 win over Stephen Bunting. It was a 109.20 average from Bunting, the highest losing average in the tournament’s history. Dobey has won six of his last ten matches and like MVG, he has hit five ton plus averages in those ten.

MVG Dominant

Their H2H record is 22-6 to MVG and even in 2025, a bad year for MVG, he is 4-0. One of Dobey’s rare wins over MVG came here in 2022 when he won 6-5 in the first round.

MVG is the 1.80 favourite, Dobey 2.15. Given that H2H record, MVG’s odds look a touch generous, but he is not the player he was. Dobey has the game to beat anyone, but he lacks the self-belief that he needs to move to the next level.

You can make a decent case for either player and the money is going down on Dobey. However, I can’t see any value in either player. No bet.

2025 European Championship R2 Tip: No Bet

-JamesPunt