2024 Swiss Darts Trophy SATURDAY Preview

Another day, another dollar for James Punt’s followers. His hot form continued this afternoon and he is back with more selections for this evening’s session. You can check out his 2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Saturday preview and tips below.

Martin Schindler vs. Anton Ostlund

The Nordic Baltic qualifier, Anton Ostlund, beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2. It was a proper game of darts with Dirk averaging 97, so Ostlund deserved his win. He took his chances well and looked very comfortable.

Schindler has won seven of his last ten matches and he reached the semi-final of PC23 on Wednesday, so he will be feeling confident.

Schindler is the 1.29 favourite with Ostlund 4.00. Schindler should win, of course, but Ostlund can play at pretty good level. However, his seasonal average is 84.33, which suggests another mid 90s average is unlikely. Last year he played in ET12 and averaged 97 in a first round win. He followed that up with an 86.57 and 5-6 defeat to Noppert. He might well be able to make Schindler work for a win.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Saturday Tip: 1 point Ostlund to win +2.5 legs @ 2.00 with Betfair

Stephen Bunting vs. Michael Smith

Bully Boy made hard work of beating Ian White 6-5 last night, but missing twenty doubles does that. He has won six of his last ten matches but he hasn’t been dominating many. Four of his last five matches went to a deciding leg.

Bunting has won six of his last ten matches and he is playing well enough, just with too many trips south of a 90 average. He has won eight of his second round matches on the Euro Tour and he doesn’t have to worry about qualifying for the finals. Smith would like another win to cement his place in the European Championships.

Their H2H record is 8-6 to Bunting but Smith has won their last three. They have only met four times in the last four years, which is surprising. Bunting is 3-1 on the Euro Tour, but their last match in Europe was back in 2018.

The best odds on both players are 2.00. I can’t argue with that and I am happy to pass on this one.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Saturday Tip: no bet

Gerwyn Price vs. James Wade

Wade was very pleased with his 6-3 win over Dimitri van den Bergh, probably as it makes his place in the finals all but secured. He has won seven of his last ten matches and he is playing solid, James Wade stuff.

Gerwyn Price has lost five of his last ten matches as he continues to struggle to find his best form. This is his time of year and we have become used to him upping the ante as we get to the business end of the season, but so far, he is spluttering a bit. He has also lost his last three Euro Tour matches and not made the final day since May.

Their H2H record is 15-13 to Wade, but Price has won their last four. They have only met on the Euro Tour twice, with Wade winning both, but the most recent was back in 2019.

Price is the 1.58 favourite, Wade 2.62. I would make it closer than that.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Saturday Tip: 1 point James Wade to win @ 2.62 with Betvictor

Luke Humphries vs. Richard Veenstra

Humphries cited exhaustion as the reason for his poor performance midweek. In the last three weeks he has played in Antwerp, Budapest, Amsterdam, four tournaments back in the UK and now here he is in Switzerland. He has lost five of his last ten matches, so he may have a point.

Veenstra beat Peter Wright 6-4 last night. It was a very important win as it bumped him into the last provisional place for the European Championship. Another win would help him hang on to it. He will not play in the final qualifying event, so this is his last chance. He has won six of his last ten matches but has hit seven sub 90 averages. That suggests he will lose this one, a tired Humphries or not.

Humphries is the 1.20 favourite and Veenstra 5.50. This will be their first match, but it is a no bet match for me.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Saturday Tip: No bet

Luke Littler vs. Bruno Stöckli

Local qualifier, Bruno Stöckli, beat Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 yesterday and his reward is to get thrashed by Luke Littler.

Littler has only had one 6-0 win on the Euro Tour but he must have a very good chance of doubling that here. It is only a 3.10 shot, but it will do.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Saturday Tip: 0.5 point Littler to win 6-0 @ 3.10 with Betfred

Ricardo Pietreczko vs. Raymond van Barneveld

Pietreczko had to pull out of his match with Ross Smith in Budapest last weekend with a wrist injury. He didn’t need to play this weekend, so can we assume that his fitness is not an issue? Assume nothing. I have no idea.

The market has decided that he is not fit and makes RVB the 1.36 favourite, Pietreczko 3.40. They have only met once and Pietreczko won 6-3 last year. The temptation is to back Pietreczko and hope he is fit, but there is no need to take unnecessary risks. No bet.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Saturday Tip: No Bet

Dave Chisnall vs. Nathan Aspinall

Our main bet in the outright market, Dave Chisnall, kicks off with a match against Aspinall, who continues his comeback from injury. Aspinall beat local qualifier Marcel Walpen 6-3 and averaged 91.61. It was a nice opening match for Aspinall, but he will likely need to up his game here.

The Asp has played ten matches since returning to action and has won five. Most matches have seen low 90 averages but there was one ton plus and a 98 in midweek.

Chisnall is loving life on the Euro Tour, winning two titles, to go with his three last year. He lost out to Daryl Gurney last weekend, but he just met Gurney on a good day and he was hitting massive checkouts to steal the match.

Chizzy has won eight of his last ten matches and he picked up another Players Championship title on Wednesday. He is in top form and is hard to beat right now.

Their H2H record is 7-6 to Chisnall but on the Euro Tour it is 5-2 to Chisnall.

Chisnall is the 1.67 favourite, Aspinall 2.50. That would be fair enough if we were talking about a fully match fit Aspinall, but he is still getting the rust out of his game after two months without throwing a dart.

We are already well invested in Chisnall, but he looks generously priced.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Saturday Tip: 1 point Dave Chisnall to win -1.5 legs @ 2.10 with Betvictor

Chris Dobey vs. Wessell Nijman

Dobey will be happy that his beloved Newcastle United got a draw against the mighty Man City, and he plays better when his team get a result. He has won seven of his last ten matches, losing the final of PC23 to Chisnall on Wednesday. He has only played Nijman once and needed a 104 average to win 6-5 back in February.

Nijman has won seven of his last ten matches. He got a 6-0 win against an injured Luke Woodhouse yesterday, but he did the right thing and just got on with his game, averaging 98. He reached the quarter finals last weekend and he is improving fast as he gets more stage experience.

This has the potential to be a cracker. Two heavy scorers in good form, it should be entertaining and we could get another deciding leg.

2024 Swiss Darts Trophy Saturday Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 1.91 with Hills, Ladbrokes, Boylesports

-JamesPunt