2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 Preview

James Punt has already posted his o/r betting preview, see that here. You can check out his 2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 preview and tips below.

Karel Sedlacek vs. Jim Williams

Sedlacek has lost six of his last ten matches but has hit four ton plus averages and even his B game is around the low 90s. Three defeats were 5-6, including one against MVG. He is a two time Euro Tour quarter finalist and somewhat underrated.

Williams is making his second Euro Tour appearance of the season, both from off the reserve list. Last week he thrashed Alan Soutar 6-1 in the first round, before losing 5-6 to Martin Schindler. He has lost five of his last ten matches and lacks consistency.

Williams is the 1.91 marginal favourite, with Sedlacek 2.10 and being backed. It does look to be a bit of a coin toss, but I do expect a close match.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 2.10 with Betfair, Hills

Luke Woodhouse vs. Wessel Nijman

Woodhouse is having his best ever season, but his form looks to have dropped off. He has lost six of his last ten, but he is playing well enough on the whole. Woodhouse has won seven of his ten first round matches on the Euro Tour in 2024.

Nijman is one of the hottest properties in darts right now. He has won six of his last ten matches, hitting five ton plus averages. He is beginning to find more consistency in his game, and he is going places, quickly. He is three from three in his Euro Tour first round matches and he reached the quarter final last weekend.

Nijman is the 1.50 favourite, Woodhouse 3.00. I think any value has been already taken.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 Tip: No Bet

Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Bruno Stöckli

Ratajski is the overwhelming 1.13 favourite to beat the local qualifier. Bruno Stöckli averaged 81.78 across his three qualifying matches and this should be about the margin of Ratajski’s victory. It is not a betting match for me.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 Tip: No Bet

Mike de Decker vs. Graham Hall

Our big outsider bet for the title, Mike De Decker, has been playing some great stuff lately, and has won seven of his last ten matches. These two last met just two weeks ago and De Decker won 6-5, his second win over Hall.

Graham Hall is an infrequent visitor to the Euro Tour and is not in great form, losing six of his last ten matches. He did average 101 when losing 5-6 to De Decker, but that was atypical of his usual standard (seasonal average 90.93). Hall lost his only previous Euro Tour match in 2024, 2-6 to Chris Dobey. It is a tough draw to get another heavy hitter in the first round.

De Decker is the 1.40 favourite and hopefully he can justify those odds. But this is not a great betting opportunity.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 Tip: No Bet

Madars Razma vs. Alex Fehlmann

A great draw for Razma. He still has an outside chance of making the European Championship and has hit some good form, reaching the quarter final of PC22 on Tuesday, and he took eventual winner Dave Chisnall to a deciding leg in the fourth round on Wednesday. He has won seven of his last ten matches and hit some big averages.

Alex Fehlmann averaged 81.28 across his three qualifying matches, including a 58.12 in one match.

Razma should win this at a canter. He is the 1.22 favourite but he looks backable on the handicap.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 Tip: 1 point Razma to win -2.5 legs @ 1.73 with Ladbrokes, Betvictor, BET365

Andrew Gilding vs. Nandor Pres

Gilding is on the bubble for qualification for the European Championship and the Grand Prix, so getting the PDC East European qualifier for his opener should be a great start.

Gilding has won five of his last ten matches and is playing some very good stuff, but plenty of mediocre darts as well. He will likely to be too good for Pres, who is a steady mid 80s player, but only two of his last 50 matches saw his average creep into the 90s. He should be good enough to win a few legs, but this is another no bet match.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 Tip: No Bet

Ryan Miekle vs. Roger Hertig

They must be saving the good stuff for later.

Roger Hertig was very consistent in his three qualifiers yesterday, averaging 76, 78 and 78.

Miekle hit two 99 averages on Wednesday, losing in the second round to De Decker. He averaged 99 when losing to Heta in Tuesday’s second round, having had a 105 when beating Puha in the first. That is good play, with little reward. That is the way his play has gone recently, he has been hitting some big numbers but is lacking the consistency to have good runs. However, there is no denying that his A game is very strong.

This should be another easy win for the tour card holders. Miekle is the 1.17 favourite and you know the drill by now. No bet.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 Tip: No Bet

Callan Rydz vs. Brendan Dolan

Finally, a match with interest. Dolan is hanging on to his provisional place in the European Championship, ranked 32nd, but he is in dire form, losing twelve of his last thirteen matches, including a 4-6 loss to Rydz two weeks ago.

Rydz has his demons, and playing on the Euro Tour seems to bring them to the fore. Last week was a case in point. He was 4-1 up on Florian Hempel and in total control of the match, but he missed a double and just crumbled, losing 5-6. He is a fantastic player and has won two Players Championship titles, but he beats himself up for the slightest error. To say his head drops is an understatement, it just explodes.

Rydz showed much better form midweek, reaching the quarter final of PC22, but losing in the first round in PC23. He has lost five of his last ten but he has lost six of his seven first round matches on the Euro Tour.

Grinder Dolan

This is a match between the ultimate grinder, Dolan, and a very talented but mentally fragile Rydz. Dolan really needs a win but all he has done lately is lose. His confidence must be in the bin, but he will give it his best shot. Rydz should win, but only if he allows himself to. Dolan has two chances to win, he could beat Rydz, or let Rydz beat himself.

This all about Rydz, and if he can keep his head together for a whole match.

Their H2H record is 6-2 to Rydz. He has won their last three 6-1, 6-1 and 3-0 at the 2022 World Championship. He won just wo weeks ago. Surely, he can remember all that and beat Dolan up again?

They have played seven best of eleven leg matches and only one, their first, went beyond nine legs and only two beyond eight legs. They have been very one sided affairs.

I may well regret this one, but hopefully that recent heavy defeat of Dolan will put Rydz’ head in a good place and he can get this done, quickly, before he blows up.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 Tip: 1 point under 9.5 legs @ 1.90 with Livescorebet

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy R1 Tip: 1 point Rydz to win -1.5 legs @ 2.05 with Betfred

-JamesPunt