Friday Evening PDC World Championship Preview

After another interesting afternoon session, James Punt is back with his last pre-Xmas preview. Check out his Friday Evening PDC World Championship preview below.

Martin Schindler vs. Martin Lukeman

Schindler has been playing well this season and that is reflected in him being seeded. He has yet to win a senior PDC title, but his seasonal average is a very competitive 94.9. He has won six of his last ten matches, but he hasn’t ever really clicked on TV.

The diminutive German has never won a match at Ally Pally; he has fallen at the first fence in five majors this season, with a fifth round in the UK Open and third round exits at the Players Championship finals being his best results in 2022.

Poor Recent Run

Martin Lukeman has had his best ever season and peaked with a quarter final in the World Grand Prix. His recent run of results is poor, losing seven of his last ten. He didn’t have to do much to win his first round match with the Japanese qualifier, Nobuhiro Yamamoto, 3-0. He played Schindler in a Grand Slam qualifier last month and lost 4-5, but overall it is 3-2 to Schindler and 2-2 in 2022.

Schindler is the 1.57 favourite with Lukeman 2.62. Three of their matches have gone to a deciding leg, all the ones Schindler won. Lukeman’s form is a worry, but he perfectly capable of winning and if he can stay with Schindler early, the German’s terrible TV record will be on his mind.

Friday Evening PDC World Championship Tip: 1 point Martin Lukeman to win +1.5 sets @ 1.73 with Ladbrokes

Danny Noppert vs. David Cameron

Noppert has had a good year and he remains in good form, winning seven of his last ten. His annual win rate is 71%, he has won a major and his seasonal average is 95.4. He has established himself as a top player in his first season as a first time dad, the Nappy Factor at work.

Cameron averages 88.8 for the season and he beat Ritchie Edhouse 3-2 in the first round, coming from 0-2 down, so he showed good bottle to stick in, but he is going to be out classed here.

Noppert is the 1.17 favourite and Cameron will do well to get a set on the scoreboard.

Friday Evening PDC World Championship Tip: 1 point Danny Noppert to win 3-0 @ 2.30 with Boylesports

Jonny Clayton vs. Danny van Trijp

Van Trijp beat Steve Beaton and beat him to nil. Beaton wasn’t at his best, but it was still a good win for the young Dutchman on his Ally Pally debut. He is in decent form, winning six of his last ten matches, but his scoring is unlikely to bother Clayton, unless he can bring his A game, which only happens about once in every ten.

Clayton has won six of his last ten matches and reached the semi-final of the Players Championship finals last month but did so without being at his best. His B game is good enough to do that and he should be able to beat Van Trijp at a canter.

The Ferret is the 1.14 favourite and Van Trijp 6.50. It should be straightforward for Clayton but he hasn’t had it all his own way here in last 64 matches before. He has played six and won four, but only one 3-0, against Jan Dekker. Can he whitewash another Dutchman? The odds are just about good enough.

Friday Evening PDC World Championship Tip: 1 point Jonny Clayton to win 3-0 @ 2.10 generally available

Joe Cullen vs. Ricky Evans

Rapid Ricky played in fits and starts when beating Fallon Sherrock 3-1 in the first round. He lost the first set, and it could have gone away from him, but Sherrock wasn’t good enough in the end. Ricky was good on the doubles and took his chances nicely. He has a decent last 64 record here, winning four of his six matches. His recent form hasn’t been good, losing seven of his last ten.

Joe Cullen used to be very opposable at the Ally Pally. Cullen packing a toothbrush was on the optimistic side for years. He lost his first six last 64 round matches in a row, four of them to nil, before beating Corey Cadby in 2017. He then lost his next three last 64 matches, before winning at that stage for the last two years. Rockstar looks to be over his hoodoo, but it won’t be far from the surface of his consciousness.

Better Form

Cullen’s recent form is far better than Evans’. He has won six of his last ten and reached the quarter finals of the Grand Slam and Players Championship finals. His scoring has been consistent, if not quite his best.

Their H2H record is very much in Cullen’s favour with a 10-3 lead, and he has won their last six in a row with a combined leg score of 36-15.

Despite all his struggles here in the past, it is very hard to oppose Cullen. His form is better and the H2H record is very strongly in his favour. Evans will have to find his A game and try and bring out Cullen’s Ally Pally demons. If he can’t, it’s home time for Ricky.

Evans has never lost to nil in a last 64 match, so hopefully he can get something on the board, while Cullen has only won one last 64 match to nil.

Friday Evening PDC World Championship Tip: 1 point Joe Cullen to win 3-1 @ 3.60 with SpreadEx

That’s all until we return on the 27th, when the tournament proper starts. Have a good Christmas and I for one am looking forward to catching up on some sleep!

-JamesPunt