2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday Preview

What a start for James Punt today. A full house with four winners from four bets. Hopefully there’s more of the same to come tonight. You can check out his 2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday preview and tips below.

Ritchie Edhouse vs. Jermaine Wattimena

A crowd of over 3500 are going to get their money’s worth, with a good line up of much more competitive matches than this afternoon’s session. First up is Ritchie Edhouse vs. a slightly slower Jermine Wattimena.

The Bank of Edhouse was not paying out last weekend. He went down 3-6 to Van Barneveld in the first round. Edhouse has won six of his last ten matches but he wasn’t doing anything to impress in the midweek events.

Jermaine Wattimena was making some progress with his slightly slower throw earlier in the season. His recent form sees six wins from his last ten matches, the same as Edhouse. Wattimena reached two quarter finals in the first two Euro Tour events of the year and he has won all five of his first round matches on the Euro Tour in 2024.

Edhouse has also enjoyed a good Euro Tour season, reaching the quarter final of ET3 and ET6 and his first round loss last weekend was his first on this year’s Euro Tour. Two very similar seasons for the two players, both tour regulars who rarely hit the headlines.

Their H2H record is 6-2 to Wattimena and in their last six, he has won five 6-3 or better.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday Tip: 1 point Wattimena to win -1.5 legs @ 2.10 with Betfred, Betvictor

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday Tip: 0.5 point Wattimena to win 6-3 @ 6.75 with Livescorebet, Unibet

Anton Ostlund vs. Dirk van Duijvenbode

Ostlund is the Nordic Baltic qualifier and averages 84.22 in 2024. He also plays on the Challenge tour where he has won seven of his last ten matches. He should be good enough to get a few legs on the board.

Dirk van Duijvenbode’s comeback from injury looks to have stalled a bit for now. He has lost seven of his last ten matches. He has played some good matches, but the consistency has gone.

Dirk is the 1.25 favourite and it is hard to see anything of interest in this match. No bet.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday Tip: No bet

Dimitri van den Bergh vs. James Wade

Such is Van den Bergh’s lack of form, that I had almost forgotten that he won this year’s UK Open. He also won PC12 in June, but since then he has played 31 and lost 19. Most recently he has lost nine of his last ten matches. He has lost his last three Euro Tour matches. Not very inspiring.

James Wade is trying to get himself back in the top 16 in the world rankings. He was a semi-finalist on Tuesday and has won seven of his last ten matches. His place in the European Championship is not yet certain, and he is one of the players who needs a win or two just to make sure.

Their H2H record is 4-4, with three Premier League draws. Given their recent form, I have to back James Wade.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday Tip: 1 point James Wade to win @ 1.73 with Hills

Joe Cullen vs. Raymond van Barneveld

Cullen’s seasonal average has dropped to 91.71 and his win rate 47%. He is in bother. His recent form sees six defeats from his last ten matches and he really is struggling with his scoring.

Raymond van Barneveld needs a win or two to cement his place in the European Championship as he is currently just 30th on the Euro Tour OOM. His recent form is no better than Cullen’s, also losing six of his last ten, but his scoring is usually a bit stronger.

Their H2H record is 7-7 and it is Cullen who has won their last three, all last season and by 18 legs to 7 in total. Clearly, Barney holds no fear for Cullen, but he can’t be feeling very confident anytime he steps up to the oche these days.

Barney is the 1.67 favourite, Cullen 2.38. Joe Cullen needs a win to cement his place in the Grand Prix, so both players will be motivated/nervous. I would go with Barney, but the odds are no more than fair. No bet.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday Tip: No Bet

Cameron Menzies vs. Jonny Clayton

Two players in good form. Clayton has won eight of his last ten matches and reached back to back quarter finals in midweek. Victories over Michael Smith and Gary Anderson on Wednesday were good performances, otherwise he was OK, but not great.

Cameron Menzies has greatly improved his performances in 2023-24. His seasonal win rate is 71% and he has got to the point where he really should be winning titles. He is £2k outside the European Championship, and while he has qualified for the final Euro Tour event, he’d rather get the job done here. Menzies has won six of his last ten matches and his A-game is a little better than Clayton’s right now.

Their H2H record is 2-2 but it is Clayton who has won their last two matches in 2024, on consecutive days back in July, one a semi-final. Menzies won 6-5 back in March.

It is a hard one to call. A few weeks ago, Menzies would have been the call, but Clayton will have been boosted by his wins in midweek. Menzies is the 1.80 favourite, Clayton 2.10. I struggle to call Clayton right of late and this is an easy pass for me. No bet.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday Tip: No Bet

Peter Wright vs. Richard Veenstra

Veenstra will have a better idea of what he needs from this weekend after Brendan Dolan played earlier. He is just £1k outside the European Championship spots, but the one sure thing he needs, is a win. Veenstra has won six of his last ten matches, but seven saw sub 90 averages, so he is not playing great.

Peter Wright has won seven of his last ten matches and he has won eleven of his last thirteen Euro Tour matches. He is not back to his best scoring wise, but he is hitting a lot of mid 90 averages and his consistency is good.

They have never met before, so no H2H form. Wright is the 1.50 favourite, Veenstra 2.75. It is a tough draw for the Dutchman. He would have hoped for an easier opponent in what is a crucial match for him.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday Tip: 1 point Peter Wright to win -1.5 legs @ 1.83 with Ladbrokes

Marcel Walpen vs. Nathan Aspinall

The Asp is on the comeback from injury. He played in Hungary last weekend and won his first round match against Ratajski.

Since his return to the oche, Aspinall has played nine matches and won four, probably better than he expected after two months without throwing a single dart. He even had a ton plus during the week and while he is well shy of his best, he has been quite solid, and likely good enough to win this. He still has an outside chance of making the finals, starting with a win here.

Walpen is the final local qualifier and the others have put up a good fight, better than I expected anyway. Walpen needed to win four matches yesterday to qualify and averaged 94 in one match. He plays Challenge tour and in the Modus Super Series, so he is at least a semi-professional.

Aspinall is the 1.07 favourite, which does look very short for a player who is still feeling his way back into the game. Yes, of course he should win, but so should Ratajski have earlier. Ryan Miekle lost against his local qualifier and there is going to be a very big crowd urging their man on tonight. I will have a go on the outsider on the handicap.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday Tip: 1 point Marcel Walpen to win +3.5 legs @ 2.15 with Ladbrokes

Ian White vs. Michael Smith

Bully Boy is not a certain qualifier for the European championships. He skipped a lot of tournaments and is only 31st on the Euro Tour OOM going into this event. His recent form is OK, winning six of his last ten and hitting seven 96+ averages. He looks to be heading the right way.

Ian White is a multiple Euro Tour title winner, but his form deserted him a couple of years ago and he is on the cusp of losing his tour card after thirteen years. He is currently ranked T60th and every ranking pound is like gold dust to him right now.

Recent Form

His recent form sees five wins from his last ten matches. He won his board final on Wednesday, hitting two ton plus averages, beating Ross Smith with one and Gabriel Clemens with the other. His last ton plus average was back in February, so he will have been thrilled to land two, and win those matches.

That moved him up two places in the rankings and a win here would make him clear 60th and a little more comfortable.

Their H2H record is 16-10 to Smith and White has not beaten Smith since 2022. Smith is the 1.30 favourite, White 4.00. White has only played in one Euro Tour event this year, losing his first round match 1-6 to Chris Dobey. It is hard to say where his head will be tonight. Could he roll back the years, or will he be too tight to reproduce those two midweek tons?

I am tempted by the 2.00 on White +2.5 legs, but the value seems only marginal. No bet.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Friday Tip: No Bet

-JamesPunt