2026 PDC WC Day 7 Preview

It was a tough start for James Punt on Tuesday afternoon but he bounced back with two winners in the evening session. You can check out his 2026 PDC WC Day 7 preview below.

Matt Campbell vs. Adam Sevada

An all-North American clash which guarantees that someone from across the pond makes it into round two. Canadian Matt Campbell is making his sixth appearance here, but he has won just two first round matches, both in the last two years.

Campbell has had a pretty quiet season, but his form picked up a bit in the final two Players Championship events with back to back fourth rounds, including a 6-5 win over Luke Littler. He has won six of his last ten matches and hit three ton plus averages in those ten.

It wasn’t enough for him to make the Players Championship finals. Nor was his quarter final in the European Darts Open enough to get him into the European Championship. Just like last year, this, and the UK Open were his only two major appearances. His two first round wins were hard fought affairs, beating Lourence Ilagan 3-2 in 2023 and Mensur Suljovic 3-2 in 2024.

CDC Tour

Adam Sevada has had a successful season on the CDC tour, winning three titles and being runner up in another two. His has got a decent A-game and averages a fraction less than 90 (Campbell’s is 91). Their stats suggest that there is not a lot between them, but Sevada is a little better on the doubles and a significantly bigger 180 hitter.

This will be Sevada’s debut at Ally Pally and his experience at this level is very limited with a couple of World Series event appearances where he lost to Cross and Price.

Matt Campbell is the 1.67 favourite, Sevada 2.30. Campbell was in decent form at the end of October, but he hasn’t played any competitive games since then, the same goes for Sevada. Campbell has the advantage of having played here many times before and that might be the deciding factor.

2026 PDC WC Day 7 Tip: 0.5 point Matt Campbell to win 3-2 @ 5.00 with Paddy Power, Skybet

Raymond van Barneveld vs. Stefan Bellmont

Barney gets a bit sensitive about his draw. I believe his first comments after the draw was made was along the lines of ‘in Littler’s quarter again’. He couldn’t meet Littler until the fourth round and it might be a bit of a stretch to see him get that far, but he did two years ago. He should just be happy that he got a winnable first round draw.

Van Barneveld is in poor form, losing seven of his last ten matches, and his last defeat was a 3-6 loss to Ratajski at the Players Championship finals. He only managed a 76.90 average in that match and in those last ten matches he has hit six sub 90 averages, so Stefan Bellmont might fancy his chances.

Swiss No. 1

The Swiss number one finished the Challenge tour on top of that OOM. The three players behind him, Darius Labanauskas, Ted Evetts and Merv King, have all fallen at the first fence, but Labanauskas drew Luke Littler and Ted Evetts got Luke Humphries.

Bellmont has lost five of his last six matches but he did beat James Wade in the Grand Slam of darts and lost in a deciding leg to Ricky Evans. He has played in quite a few Players Championship events and Euro Tours, but not with any great success.

Bellmont did reach the semi-final of PC4 way back in February, beating the likes of Gerwyn Price, Josh Rock and Ryan Joyce but, on the whole, he has floundered at senior level.

Barney Odds On

These two have played once before, back in 2021 and Bellmont won that 6-5. Barney is the 1.44 favourite, Bellmont 3.20. Barney has a vast amount of experience of playing here, Bellmont made his debut last year and lost 3-0 to Jermaine Wattimena. He may face an easier task this time around, but he remains the outsider.

Since his return to darts after his first retirement, RVB has played in four World Championships and won three of his opening matches, 3-0, 3-1 and 3-1, but lost 1-3 to Nick Kenny last year. He played very well in the first three but only managed an average of 84.64 last year. His game is in decline and his seasonal average is only just above 91. If Bellmont brings his A-game, a win is not out of the question.

Bellmont is 1.91 getting a +1.5 set handicap. Not great odds and you might as well go for the Swiss to win outright at 3.20, if you fancy him at all. However, I am happy to pass on this one.

2026 PDC WC Day 7 Tip: No Bet

James Wade vs. Ryusei Azemoto

I am always wary of the Japanese players who make it to Ally Pally. They often play way above expectations and even pull off surprise wins. Azemoto made his debut here last year and took Wesley Plaisier to a deciding set. This is a much stiffer test, however.

Azemoto finished fourth on the Asian Tour OOM. He hit a 111.83 average in one match, but his seasonal average is just 83.28.

James Wade is the best player never to win a World Championship. He has never even reached a final, which is a bit strange for a player of his pedigree. He reached the semi-final in 2022 but since then he has lost his last three opening matches. 2-3 to Jim Williams, 2-3 to Matt Campbell and 0-3 to Jermaine Wattimena last year. Those are all better players than Azemoto, but it does suggest to me that Wade is very nervous when he arrives at Ally Pally.

Wade is the 1.07 favourite and Azemoto 11.00. I can’t resist having a go with Azemoto getting a +2.5 set handicap headstart.

2026 PDC WC Day 7 Tip: 1 point Azemoto to win +2.5 sets @ 2.25 generally available

Martin Schindler vs. Stephen Burton

Schindler has played in six World Championships but only won two matches. He has lost four of his opening matches and he is another player that must be nervous when he gets here. Schindler has won six of his last ten matches but he hasn’t been playing anywhere near his best. Five sub 90 averages and only two over 92. That’s not great.

Stephen Burton has been around for a long time, a real journeyman pro. He has played in two previous World Championships but lost both his first round matches 0-3. He is set to lose his tour card unless he can win this match. It is a big deal for him.

Burton has won five of his last ten matches and he has played some good stuff with six 94+ averages. If he can play to that level, we have a game.

Schindy Too Short?

These two have met once, with Burton winning 6-3 back in 2022. Schindler is the 1.36 favourite, Burton 3.60. Schindler looks pretty short odds to me given his most recent form, and a rather poor record here.

It is a better record than Burton’s and the Englishman is playing for his tour card. Will that motivate him, or make him too nervous to be able to play his best? It would be quite the story if he pulled it off. I will have a small interest on the outsider. Burton is being backed and Schindler is out to 1.36 from 1.29, 24 hours ago.

2026 PDC WC Day 7 Tip: 0.5 point Stephen Burton to win @ 3.60 with SpreadEx

-JamesPunt