2026 European Championship Day 3 Tips – JP
2026 European Championship Day 3 Preview
James Punt kept things ticking over nicely this afternoon. Check out his 2026 European Championship Day 3 preview and tips below.
Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Kevin Doets
Both players did the business for us yesterday. Ratajski beat Chisnall in a match that was as bad as I expected. Which was nice. Kevin Doets beat MVG 6-3, which was also nice. Doets played very well, averaging 97.14, Ratajski only needed a 91.21.
The problem for Ratajski is that a 91.21 average is about where his game is right now. He has lost seven of his last ten matches and while he has been facing some very good players, his game is not where it should be.
Doets’ Delight
Doets was chuffed to have beaten MVG, who he, like many young Dutch players, still regards as a special player. Doets has won six of his last ten matches and he is playing some really good darts, but not with any great consistency.
Ratajski has only made the second round twice and lost that back in 2022. Doets is making his debut and doesn’t have that kind of baggage.
Their H2H record is 3-2 to Doets. He has won their last three and two in 2026, both were 6-5 wins. All of their matches have been close. Three 6-5s, a 6-4 and a 4-3 in sets at the Ally Pally.
Doets is the 1.44 favourite, Ratajski 2.88. The odds look about right, but I will go with an overs bet, given their match history.
2026 European Championship Day 3 Tip: 1 point over 16.5 legs @ 2.10 with Boylesports
Martin Schindler vs. Jermaine Wattimena
Schindy delighted the home crowd with a 6-5 win over Wessel Nijman yesterday. It was the first time that the crowd actually got their voice, and it was only Schindler’s second win in the European Championships.
It has to be said that Nijman was, once again, disappointing in a TV match. Schindler has won five of his last ten matches but he has been playing some good stuff, and it looks to me that he is returning to form.
Wattimena was poor in his 6-3 win over Ryan Joyce. He was 5-0 up, but it was very close to being 5-4. Joyce was severely handicapped by having his luggage not turn up. He had to borrow a set of darts, didn’t have his shirt and was clearly just not comfortable.
87 Average
It was just an 87 average for Wattimena and he has won six of his last ten matches. Much like Schindler, he is playing some good stuff, but his consistency is poor.
Wattimena is a better, more successful player on the floor, Schindler is better on the stage. Wattimena has played eight matches on TV in 2026 and won two. In his defence, he has played some very tough opponents.
Their H2H record is 8-5 to Schindler, but on stage, he is 4-0.
Schindler is the 2.06 marginal outsider. I have him favourite to win.
2026 European Championship Day 3 Tip: 1 point Martin Schindler to win @ 2.06 with Livesccorebet
Nathan Aspinall vs. Luke Littler
Do I really need to do a preview of this one? Their H2H record is 18-3 to Littler. Two of Aspinall’s wins came in Mickey Mouse World Series events.
Aspinall was pretty ordinary in his 6-3 win over Reyes last night, Littler hit a 105 average against a pretty good version of William O’Connor. The crowd didn’t give him any trouble. Most of them seemed to be asleep, only to be woken up when Schindler turned up.
The Asp will be the crowd favourite. The Euro Tour crowds love him but I doubt that will be enough. Littler loves to beat Aspinall and The Asp gives him too much respect, but what else can he do?
Littler is the 1.17 favourite, Aspinall 5.50. You have to give Aspinall some credit for at least making Littler work for many of his wins. Their last three matches have all been long format, TV matches which ended 8-11, 8-11 and 9-10. That last match, a 10-9 win for Littler, was at the recent World Series Finals.
I suspect the crowd will play a bigger role tonight, and not in Littler’s favour. If it gets close, they will be all over him, and then things could get interesting.
2026 European Championship Day 3 Tip: 1 point Nathan Aspinall to win +4.5 legs @ 1.73 with Betfred, Hills, Skybet
Jonny Clayton vs. Josh Rock
Rock smashed up a very poor Chris Dobey last night. He averaged 100.74 in a 6-1 win. Rock has won five of his last ten matches, but he has played so little darts in the last month it is hard to say what kind of form he is in.
Clayton is in top form, winning eight of his last ten matches. He saw off Niko Springer 6-3 with a solid 96.81 average.
Their H2H record is 8-8 and in 2026, 3-2 to Clayton. The Welshman is the 1.75 favourite and that seems about right to me. I am happy to watch this and hope that Clayton can progress. No bet.
