2026 International Darts Open R3 Preview – JP
2026 International Darts Open R3 Preview
Another solid enough evening yesterday, hopefully we finish strong. Check out James Punt’s 2026 International Darts Open R3 preview below.
R3 Reflections
It was a modest +1.31 profit on Day two, but the tally for the tournament so far is -3.21 after a horrendous first round. Our three outright selections (Gerwyn Price was a non-runner) are still going, but all three need to improve dramatically if they are to progress.
Some of the matches have been very poor and six second round matches were won with sub 90 averages. It has been a tournament not greatly blessed with quality.
Today’s 3rd round matches have been brought forward an hour and the first match starts at 12 noon local time.
Gian Van Veen vs. Kevin Doets
One of our outright selections, Kevin Doets averaged just 89.38 in his 6-5 win over Luke Woodhouse. The two ‘in-form’ players didn’t show up, but a win is a win. Doets has won eight of his last ten matches, hitting six ton plus averages and yesterday’s sub 90 was hopefully just a blip.
Gian Van Veen has been struggling for form but averaged 96.88 in a 6-3 win over Conor Scutt. Van Veen has last six of his last ten matches, hit one ton plus average and four sub 90s.
Doets has been the better player for the last few weeks as Van Veen’s form suffered post-surgery and from being put through the PL sausage machine.
Their H2H record is 4-2 to Doets, but they haven’t played each other since 2024, and three of their matches were at Development Tour level. Both are better players these days, much better.
Van Veen is the 1.91 marginal favourite, Doets 2.00. On recent form, Doets should be favourite, but Van Veen is the more accomplished, higher ranked player, so the market makes him favourite.
As we are on Doets outright, and that he was poor yesterday, I am happy to watch and hope, rather than back Doets in this match. No bet.
2026 International Darts Open Tip: No Bet
Ryan Searle vs. Kim Huybrechts
In a tournament with not that much in the way of brilliance, Kim Huybrechts was an exception last night. He ended up with a 104.66 average in his 6-5 win over Chris Dobey.
After his really poor match with Gurney on Friday, it was quite the turnaround, but he has been putting in some very strong performances lately. Huybrechts has won seven of his last ten matches and hit three 104+ averages, but there have been a couple of sub 90s in there.
Ryan Searle was not impressive in his 6-3 win over the inexperienced Charlie Manby. It was a 92.44 average and and he now gets a rare appearance in the third round, of which he has lost six of his last eight. Searle has won six of his last ten matches but he is beating journeymen or inexperienced players on the floor and he hasn’t shown any really decent form since he won PC7 in March.
Their H2H record is 4-3 to Huybrechts, but they have not played since 2024. At this point in time, Huybrechts is the better player and so long as he doesn’t have an off day, he should be too good for the struggling Searle.
2026 International Darts Open Tip: 1 point Kim Huybrechts to win @ 2.20 with SpreadEx
Stephen Bunting vs. Rob Cross
Rob Cross is making the most of his call up from the reserve list. He is having a bad season and needs all the ranking money he can, if he is to win a place at the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, both of which he is still outside of the provisional qualifiers lists.
Cross has won five of his last ten matches and while he has played some good darts, his confidence has been very low for a while. He did make the semi-final in Austria two weeks ago and that may have given him a much-needed boost.
Voltage looked something like his old self when coming from 0-2 down to beat Mike de Decker 6-2, averaging 99.15. He was equally impressive when beating the in-form Dirk van Duijvenbode on Friday.
Stephen Bunting won the final league night in the PL on Thursday and he carried that form into his match against Ratajski last night. Bunting averaged 102.54 in a 6-2 win. He has won eight of his last ten matches and hit five ton plus averages.
Their H2H record is 15-6 to Cross, but Bunting has won their last three in a row, all last year, as Cross lost his way. Their last Euro Tour match was in 2024, which Cross won 6-5. They have only ever met twice on the Euro Tour and it is 1-1 (6-4, 6-5). Another close match looks possible, with maybe Bunting to prevail.
Bunting is the 1.73 favourite, Cross 2.20.
2026 International Darts Open Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 2.10 with Betfair
Ryan Joyce vs. Jermaine Wattimena
Wattimena was really poor in his 6-5 win over Bradly Brooks yesterday. He missed 25 doubles and was only saved by Brooks being nearly as bad, missing 17. It was dire.
Wattimena has been playing some good darts lately and was runner up in PC17 on Monday, but there have been some poor performances as well. He has won seven of his last ten matches, but had four sub 90 averages. He is not banker material, but his A game is strong.
Joyce is getting the hang of these Euro Tour events. He turns up, which wasn’t always the case due to a fear of flying, and wins a few matches and banks good money. He played well in round one, but he was another to win a match with a sub 90 average yesterday, but he could afford to against a very poor Christian Kist. Joyce has won six of his last ten matches and is playing OK, a few decent performances but pretty ordinary form most of the time.
Their H2H record is 8-6 but Wattimena has won five of their last six. Wattimena is the 1.54 favourite, Joyce 2.60. The odds look about right and there is no value here. No bet.
2026 International Darts Open Tip: No Bet
Michael van Gerwen vs. Damon Heta
Van Gerwen was rubbish in his 6-5 win over Razma yesterday. Razma missed his chances and eventually MVG fell over the line with an 89.54 average. He has won seven of his last ten matches, but I expected him to be better after winning PC15 two weeks ago. It doesn’t seem to have lit his fuse.
Heta was very good on the doubles in his 6-2 win over Zonneveld, who was as bad as Heta was good on the doubles. The Aussie has won seven of his last ten matches and he is playing OK, hitting a lot of mid 90 averages.
This will be just his second 3rd round match on the Euro Tour in 2026. Indeed, he has only played one 3rd round match in his last 10 Euro Tours, but he did win it. It is the 2nd round where he usually falls.
H2H
Their H2H record is 10-7 to MVG, but Heta has won five of their last seven, including a 3-1 win in this year’s Masters. Heta is a lot better on the doubles than MVG and the Dutchman just gets too frustrated, too quickly these days. He lacks self-confidence, something that you couldn’t accuse Captain Cocky of.
MVG is the 1.47 favourite, Heta 2.75. We are on MVG outright and I will sit this one out and watch it from behind the sofa. The temptation to back Heta is quite strong, but surely MVG can’t be as bad as he was yesterday? No bet.
2026 International Darts Open Tip: No Bet
Ricardo Pietreczko vs. Ross Smith
Hats off to Ricardo form managing to win back to back matches, despite battling Dartitis. He can barely throw the dart and it is painful to watch. He has averaged 86.21 across his two matches and maybe it is because his struggle is so obvious that it has put his opponents off?
Smudger was a rare shining light yesterday, averaging 102.17 in a 6-3 win over Joe Cullen. Of course, Cullen missed darts to win a fourth leg and land our overs bet, but it has been one of those tournaments.
Ordinary Form
Smith has won seven of his last ten matches but hasn’t been showing much in the way of good form. Smith has lost five of his six 3rd round matches in Europe in 2026, but he did go on to reach the final in Sindelfingen a few weeks ago.
I can’t see Pikachu continuing to win matches playing the way he is. Smith has beaten Pietreczko twice on the Euro Tour there was a 6-2 win and a 1-0 win. That was when Ricardo had to withdraw with an injury.
Smith needs to be ruthless. Don’t feel sorry for the guy that can’t throw. Just try and win 6-0, which he should be able to do.
2026 International Darts Open Tip: 0.5 point Smith to win 6-0 @ 16.0 with Livescorebet
James Wade vs. Wessel Nijman
Wade did a number on Dave Chisnall, winning 6-0 and showing no mercy. Hopefully Smith took note. Chisnall is gone at the game and Wade took full advantage. Nijman should probably have lost to William O’Connor but got over the line 6-5.
Wade has won seven of his last ten matches and reached the semi-final of PC18 on Tuesday. He has hit three ton plus averages, but there are still some ordinary performances. Nijman has also won seven of his last ten matches and hit eight 96+ averages.
This is a classic big hitter vs. a great finisher match up. If Nijman is good on his doubles, he wins. He usually is, and he usually does. But not against James Wade
Their H2H record is 4-0 to Wade. That can’t last forever, but I’ll take Wade to at least make it close.
2026 International Darts Open Tip: 1 point James Wade to win +1.5 legs @ 1.95 with Boylesports
Cameron Menzies vs. Martin Schindler
Schindy is our outsider bet for the tournament, but he didn’t inspire much confidence with his 6-5 win over Karel Sedlacek. It was an 84.26 average and while a win is a win and all that, he was rubbish.
Menzies, on the other hand, was very good in his 6-4 win over Josh Rock. Rock was 4-0 up but Menzies came back with a very strong run of six straight legs won. Rock’s doubling let him down, but Menzies went in for the kill and pulled it off, averaging 97.26.
Menzies is far from consistent, so we are not out of it yet! Indeed, the market has Schindler as the 1.80 favourite, Menzies 2.10. I am sitting this one out. No bet.
