2025 WCOD Saturday Evening Preview – JP
2025 WCOD Saturday Evening Preview
James Punt is back in action at the World Cup of Darts this evening. We did alright again this afternoon, his 2025 WCOD Saturday Evening previews and tips are below.
Wales Vs. The Philippines
The Philippines landed our group bet at 7.00 in dramatic style, beating the much fancied Belgian side 4-3 last night. They hung in and took advantage of De Decker failing to take his chance. Their reward is to be drawn against our number 1 outright selection, Wales.
The Philippines have averaged a solid 86 so far. Certainly competitive at the group stage, but now in a longer match against two elite players who are former champions, Lourence Ilagan and Paolo Nebrida will need to make a step up in performance.
In 2023 the Philippines won their group and then got drawn against Scotland and lost that match 8-5. They have a better team this year, but they face a very tough opponent.
Strong Welsh Pair
Wales lost at this stage last year, but that was with Jim Williams partnering Clayton. As a pairing, Clayton and Price have won every second round match they have played (they did lose in the first round in 2019). In 2023 Wales played Denmark at this stage and won 8-2. Something similar is not out of the question. 8-2 is the joint biggest winning margin in this format, so maybe we should not expect that score.
Wales are 1.13 favourites, the Philippines 7.00. I expect the Philippines to give a good account of themselves but it would be huge surprise if they were to win.
It is hard to find any value bets in these longer format matches with a very strong favourite. Wales -3.5 legs @ 1.65 is OK, but this is a no bet for me.
2025 WCOD Saturday Evening Tip: No bet
Scotland vs. The Netherlands
A tough draw for both teams. The Netherlands are the strongest of the teams that had to come through the group stage, but it did give them a chance to bond and get valuable match time together as a pair.
They beat Italy and Hungary, both 4-0, and it is fair to say they have not yet been tested. The Netherlands, with different line ups. Have lost at this stage for the last two years, both times to Belgium. Noppert played in both those matches.
The Dutch are the 1.80 favourites, Scotland 2.10. I cannot argue with those odds. I have been impressed by the Dutch pair, but Scotland have a fine record in this event, with this line up. OK, they are a couple of old men now but Wright has shown some better form of late, making a players championship final last month and a couple of Euro Tour quarter finals. Anderson is a recent winner on the euro tour.
It is a coin toss for me and hopefully we get an entertaining match that might go all the way to a decider.
2025 WCOD Saturday Evening Tip: 1 point over 13.5 legs @ 2.25 with Boylesports, Ladbrokes
England vs. Germany
Germany are our second outright selection and it is fair to say that this is not the draw I was hoping for. Getting the number 1 seeds is a tough one.
Schindler and Pietreczko dropped a couple of legs to Portugal on Thursday but they were impressive in the 4-0 win over Singapore last night, averaging 95.43. That is the sort of standard they are going to need to give England any bother.
Of course Germany are the home crowd favourites and England are going to get a very hostile reception, especially Luke Littler (MBE). That is the straw that I am clutching to.
England are the 1.14 favourites with Germany 6.50. That is a bit dismissive about the Germans but as we are on them outright, I will just watch and hope for the best.
2025 WCOD Saturday Evening Tip: No Bet
Argentina vs. Australia
The Aussies are getting cocky but it would be optimistic to think that World Cup debutants Argentina are the team to take them down a peg or two. They have been solid and consistent, averaging mid 80s in both of their wins against Finland and New Zealand.
Their problem is that the Aussies are averaging in the mid 90s. There is a gulf in class, if the Aussies can keep it up. Heta is in good nick but Whitlock lost his tour card for a reason. He might find it harder work tomorrow.
Australia are the 1.22 favourites, Argentina 5.00, so not one of the really big outsiders. Australia lost at this stage last year but they had been poor in the group stage and a shadow of what they are doing this year. Even in 2023 they were nowhere near as good as they have been so far in 2025.
This is another match where it is very hard to find any value. Australia -3.5 legs @ 1.95 maybe, but I am still not convinced that Whitlock will not have one of those performances that we got used to in his last year or tour on tour. Heta can do the heavy lifting but at some stage they may come unstuck, but Argentina may have done their work for this weekend. No bet.
