UK Open Saturday Night Preview and Tips – JP
UK Open Saturday Night Preview
It was a tough afternoon for James Punt but he is hoping to bounce back this evening. Check out his UK Open Saturday Night tips and preview below.
Ricky Evans vs. Keane Barry
Barry’s impressive recent form continued with a 10-9 win over Niels Zonneveld this afternoon. He hit a 12-dart leg to seal the deal. He has averaged 97.6 across his three matches and been consistent so far. Evans averaged 100.5 in round four and 89.9 this afternoon when beating Waites 10-8.
These two have never met but both are quick players so this should move along at pace. Keane Barry has been installed as the 1.73 favourite, Evans 2.25 with the early shows.
Barry looks to be growing up fast and his game is looking good. Evans has not shown the same consistency, but he has now won seven of his last ten and while not at the top of his game, is at least feeling more confident.
UK Open Saturday Night Tips: 1 point Keane Barry to win @ 1.73 with Boylesports, Betvictor
Danny Noppert vs. Dirk van Duijvenbode
Noppert has a narrow 3-2 H2H record against Dirk but they have not met since 2020. The Aubergenius have hit some good form at just the right time. He is averaging 102.5 over his two matches. He had been struggling with his scoring for a while but so far, so good.
Danny Noppert had a great match with Devon Petersen. He was cruising and 7-3 up at the break but Petersen came back at him, but Noppert hung on to win 10-8. He has averaged 97 in both his matches and has won four of his five matches in 2021.
The bookies have Noppert as the marginal 1.91 favourite and Dirk at 2.00.
The odds look about right to me.
UK Open Saturday Night Tips: No Bet
Ryan Searle vs. Sebastian Bialecki
Maybe not the Pole that anyone expected to reach the last 16, but Bialecki is the only first round survivor. He reached the fourth round here last year and hit a nine darter, so he clearly enjoys Minehead. The teenager does not have tour card, but there is plenty of time for that.
Searle ended the chances of our number two selection, beating Dimitri van den Bergh 10-8. Dimitri played well, averaging 97.3 but Searle was hitting a load of 180s and was very strong on his throw. Clearly, he is another who likes Minehead and his local fan club.
Searle is the 1.25 favourite, and his fire power should be too much for the inexperienced Bialecki, but the young Pole did average 99 in his first two matches.
UK Open Saturday Night Tips: No Bet
Mensur Suljovic vs. Michael Smith
The draw has been quiet kind to Smith so far. He beat Dobey 10-7 in the fourth round and Clemens 10-8 in the fifth. The German put up more of a fight than I expected but, in the end, Smith was too good, averaging 99.
Birthday Boy Suljovic celebrated his 50th today with a 10-8 win over Geert Nentjes. The Gentle averaged 100 and it was one of his best performances for a while.
Their H2H record is 11-9 to Suljovic, and 5-4-1 in their last ten. This is a real clash of styles and Smith will have to play slowly. Will that give Suljovic an advantage? It may do.
UK Open Saturday Night Tips: 1 point Mensur Suljovic to win @ 3.3 generally available
Peter Wright vs. William O’Connor
Wright said he wasn’t feeling well on stage today, but he averaged 102.5 in an easy 10-5 win over Whitlock. Opposing these injured or sick darts players is getting expensive.
O’Connor has been playing some good stuff recently and he overcame Stephen Bunting 10-9 this afternoon. Bunting was running away with the leg, but an O’Connor 174 put him under pressure and he choked to let The Magpie steal it.
Wright has a 10-3 H2H record over O’Connor and is the 1.22 favourite. I suspect O’Connor will put up more resistance than those odds suggest, especially if Wright really does feel unwell.
UK Open Saturday Night Tips: 1 point over 15.5 legs @ 1.75 with Fitzdares
Damon Heta vs. Jonny Clayton
Our 51.00 outsider bet to win the title, Heta, beat MVG 10-4, despite the Dutchman averaging 101. His reward is another tough match, this time vs. The Ferret who thrashed Joes De Sousa 10-1, averaging 98. He may need to improve slightly against Heta if the Aussie keeps his form going. Right now, is one of the top scorers in the game.
Clayton has 3-1 record over Heta, but this looks tough to call. Clayton is the 1.67 favourite, Heta 2.50, but there is no need to get involved as we are backing Heta to at least reach the semi-final.
The 180s market does make some appeal’ however. Both hit five in the matches today, despite both being very short. I can see this going a long way and we should see plenty of maximums.
UK Open Saturday Night Tips: 1 point over 9.5 180s @ 1.91 with Ladbrokes
Gerwyn Price vs. Callan Rydz
Price was very flat against Jamie Hughes this afternoon and he needed a deciding leg to get over the line. Hughes was averaging 88.7 and it is rare to see a game like that taking Price to the wire, but as I said, he looked out of sorts.
Rydz is a great prospect but has started the year quietly and made no great appeal coming into the tournament. He beat Vincent van der Voort 10-2, but only averaged 919 in doing so.
They have met three times with Price winning two and they have all been close matches, with two deciding legs and a 6-4. If Price is as dozy as he was this afternoon and Rydz can find something near his A game, we could have good match, but Rydz has not been anywhere near his best in 2022 and I suspect price will come here in better form. No bet.
