2025 UK Open Saturday Night Preview – JP
2025 UK Open Saturday Night Preview
Now, it is time for James Punt’s 2025 UK Open Saturday Night preview. He fired in another hat-trick of winners this afternoon so 10 of his last 12 tips have now won. More of the same please James…
Saturday Afternoon Recap
It was three from three this afternoon, but the outright selections largely got the kicking that I was fearing. Wattimena gave it his best shot against Littler but still lost 4-10. Alan Soutar had me looking for a cat to kick. He went 5-0 up against Clayton, but maybe he got ahead of himself because he just went to pot and missed a load of doubles, losing 7-10.
Conor Scutt just didn’t play well enough against a pretty ordinary Damon Heta, also losing 7-10. It was left to Rob Cross to fly the Punt flag and he came through a very tough match with Danny Noppert, winning it 10-9. He then drew Josh Rock. No chance that he would get a nice draw, but there you go.
I will have a quick run through the card and see if we can unearth a few more winners. I don’t have the running order so these are not in order of play.
Josh Rock vs. Rob Cross
Rock was first up this afternoon and has had plenty of time to rest up. He beat Ross Smith 10-9 and averaged 104.82. He also hit eight 180s, helping our overs bet on that market to canter home. It was a very good performance, but he very nearly lost as Smith had 41 with three darts to win the match, but he bust his score and Rock took advantage. You need a bit of luck sometimes.
It will be interesting see where this match is on the playing schedule. Cross was the last match on stage this afternoon and after a very mentally draining match, he will need some time to rest. He averaged 97.57, hit just four 180s but was able to get himself over the line, against a tenacious opponent.
Their H2H record is 4-3 to Rob Cross and he beat Rock 10-4 here last year in the 5th round, averaging 105. More of the same would be nice. Rock has won three of their last four and this is a tough one for Cross.
Cross is the 1.80 favourite, Rock 2.00. Hopefully Cross can lift himself again for this, but it is a no bet for me.
2025 UK Open Saturday Night Tip: No bet
Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Luke Littler
The Polish eagle has put in two solid performances to beat Joe Cullen and Dave Chisnall. Neither of his opponents played well and I doubt if he will have that luxury tonight.
Littler was flawless against Wattimena. He doesn’t like playing during the day but you would not have guessed as he averaged 104, hit eight 180s and was 66% on the doubles.
These two met three times in 2024 and littler won all three, 6-3, 6-3 and 6-4. It is hard to see an upset here. Ratajski is a pretty slow player, so that may take the edge off Littler’s game and maybe it will be a little closer than many expect.
Could Ratajski get six legs on the board? If so, you can get 2.00 with SpreadEx, but I will pass on this one.
2025 UK Open Saturday Night Tip: No bet
Martin Schindler vs. Jonny Clayton
Both players had to come from behind to win their fifth round matches. Schindler beat Dylan Slevin 10-9. He has won seven of his last ten matches but has not played with any great consistency. He can be better than he has shown so far.
Clayton was a bit lucky that Soutar collapsed against him earlier. 0-5 down, he should have been buried, but the door was held open for him, and he walked straight through. Like Schindler, Clayton has won seven of his last ten matches and he is playing well, if not at his absolute best. He too can be better than he was today, as he was last night.
Their H2H record is 4-4 and on TV 2-1 to the Ferret. They met at this stage of this tournament in 2023 and it was the German who won 10-8. They met earlier this season in the World Masters and Clayton won that 3-1. He averaged 112 that night, Schindler 105. I can see this being another close match.
2025 UK Open Saturday Night Tip: 1 point over 16.5 legs @ 1.80 with Ladbrokes
Nathan Aspinall vs. William O’Connor
Aspinall had the easiest of the fifth round draw and he beat the Dutch Youngster Jurjen van der Velde 10-2. He didn’t have to expend any energy in that match. The Asp has won six of his last ten matches but isn’t playing that convincingly.
Willie O’Connor beat Mensur Suljovic 10-3 and averaged a ton in the process. He has played very well in his three matches so far, with a combined average of 98.57. If he can keep that up, he has every chance here, but that is the question. Can he keep it up? He did make the semi-final here in 2022, his best ever performance in a ranked major, so he has some positive memories to draw on.
O’Connor has a 4-2 H2H record vs. Aspinall but they have not met since 2022. I will take a leap of faith and back O’Connor as the outsider.
2025 UK Open Saturday Night Tip: 1 point William O’Connor to win @ 2.60 with Ladbrokes
Robert Owen vs. James Wade
Michael van Gerwen was absolutely dreadful against Owen. The Green Machine was misfiring on the outer ring, missing 26 doubles, but still nearly won. He gifted Owen a lot of legs and the Welshman was just about able to take advantage.
Owen was a semi-finalist here in 2018 and he must be thinking that he could do something similar. I don’t. He had a great World Championship which saved his tour card, but he hasn’t done much since.
James Wade was able to win the last three legs to edge out Cameron Menzies 10-9. He is doing his thing of hitting low averages but winning. He doesn’t panic and just grinds wins out.
The Machine has won eight of his ten matches and while he is likely to get beaten by the proper heavy scorers, Owen should be in his crosshairs. He is the 1.57 favourite but he has lost twice to Owen and won twice. There is not a lot of value here. No bet.
2025 UK Open Saturday Night Tip: No Bet
Ryan Joyce vs. Luke Humphries
Humphries beat Ryan Searle 10-0 this afternoon, averaging 100. Searle couldn’t hit a double, not something that will be a problem for Joyce.
Joyce beat Danny Lauby 10-3 and while that was a very easy draw for him, he got the shitty end of the stick by getting Humphries in the 6th round.
Their H2H record is 8-2 to Humphries and he has won their last eight in a row. Humphries is the 1.20 favourite, his TV record against Joyce is 3-0 and all were easy wins.
2025 UK Open Saturday Night Tip: 1 point Humphries to win -3.5 legs @ 1.83 with Betfred
Damon Heta vs. Gian van Veen
Heta wasn’t great in his 10-7 win over Scutt. He averaged 93.24 and it was workmanlike. He is not playing with any consistency right now and is vulnerable to a good performance.
Van Veen was pushed hard by Stephen Burton with both averaging 97. It was a 10-7 win in the end. That is back to back 97 averages for Van Veen, but he can do better than that. He has hit four ton plus averages in his last ten matches and he may be about to unleash another.
Their H2H record is 5-2 for Heta and this is a repeat of their 6th round match here last year, which Heta won 10-8. Time for some revenge.
2025 UK Open Saturday Night Tip: 1 point Gian van Veen to win @ 1.80 with Betfred
Michael Smith vs. Dimitri van den Bergh
Both players are coming back from injury. Smith looks very sharp and not bothered by his wrist problem.
Van den Bergh ground down Chris Dobey to win 10-9 and he played OK. It is hard to feel confident about either player as they have both been struggling recently.
Their H2H record is 9-8 to Smith. Van den Bergh will be canny enough to slow the game down and he has won their last three matches. I fancy Smith to win this one but odds of 1.83 are only fair. No bet.
