2024 Czech Darts Open R1 Preview

Now, it is time for James Punt’s 2024 Czech Darts Open R1 preview. Check out his player by player preview and outright tips by clicking here.

Niels Zonneveld vs. Robert Owen

Owen has won six of his last ten matches and reached a quarter final in midweek. He was tending to do his losing to good players, such as Michael Smith, Gerwyn Price and Stephen Bunting. Owen is 100% in his two Euro Tour first round matches in 2024.

Zonneveld is not in great form, losing six of his last ten matches and he has been inconsistent, and is generally not scoring well. He has lost three of his five first round matches in 2024, but most have been close and he has scored well.

Zonneveld is the 1.73 favourite, Owens the 2.25 outsider. I would flip those odds given their respective recent form. The question is, to back Owen to win @ 2.25, or go for a close match at 2.10, The latter is probably the safer option.

2024 Czech Darts Open R1 Tip: 1 point over 9.5 legs @ 2.10 with Betfair

Jermaine Wattimena vs. Patrick Kovacs

Wattimena, the 1.25 favourite, has won six of his last ten matches, and he has been playing some good stuff, hitting five ton plus averages. He has also won all six of his first round matches in Europe this season and reached two quarter finals.

Kovacs has played in four World Cups, without much success and this will be his sixth attempt at winning a match on the Euro Tour. He will get a leg or two, but Wattimena, in good form, should win this.

2024 Czech Darts Open R1 Tip: 1 point Wattimena to win -2.5 legs @ 1.70 with Ladbrokes

Ritchie Edhouse vs. Jiri Brejcha

A local qualifier for Edhouse. Brejcha has played in one Euro Tour event in 2024, and he lost 3-6 to……Ritchie Edhouse, averaging 79.29. Edhouse only averaged 85 in that match and he was dragged down a level or two. That is the only problem with these mismatches. The big favourite often doesn’t get out of first gear, because they do not have to.

Edhouse was flying when they last met, and it is fair to say that his form is not quite where it was back in May. He has lost his last two Euro Tour first round matches and averaged 87 in both.

Most recently he has won just five of his last ten matches and there is no consistency in his game. I can’t see Edhouse doing much more than win this match this weekend. Another 6-3 win? Or the handicap? Edhouse is only 1.53 with a -2.5 leg handicap.

2024 Czech Darts Open R1 Tip: 0.5 point Edhouse to win 6-3 @ 5.00 with Betfair, Betfred, Skybet

Florian Hempel vs. Alan Soutar

Two players cut from the same cloth. Both are in poor form, with both losing seven of their last ten matches. Both are very capable on their day, and both are not the easiest to predict.

This will be their sixth meeting and so far, Hempel is 3-2 up, but Soutar had a 6-1 win back in February. This could be a fascinating match to watch, but it makes zero appeal for betting purposes. No bet.

2024 Czech Darts Open R1 Tip: No Bet

Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Madars Razma

This is a huge match for Razma. He is just £250 outside the European Championship Finals, so a win here, and he is in the provisional list, and would get the £7500 minimum prizemoney. That is a very big deal for a journeyman pro.

Razma is not in great form, losing five of his last ten matches. He only got into this event as a reserve and it is a chance he really must take, which puts a whole heap of pressure on him.

Ratajski is only 40th in the European OOM, so he needs to win this and reach at least the semi-final if he is to have any chance of making the finals. The Polish Eagle is also not in great form, losing five of his last ten matches. Ratajski has had a poor Euro Tour season and has only won two of his eleven first round matches.

Razma has only qualified for four Euro Tour events in 2024, reaching the semi-final of one and the third round last time out in Switzerland. He has won two of his first round matches.

Out Of Form

Neither player is in good form and Razma really NEEDS to win. If he can use that fact to motivate himself, he can win. If he gets tight, he is more likely to lose. Their H2H record is 4-1 to Ratajski, and they have only met once in the last three and a half years, with Ratajski winning a Players Championship match 6-5 back in April.

Despite that H2H record, this looks to be a bit of a coin toss. The market makes Ratajski the 1.67 favourite, and Razma 2.30. I can’t risk Razma given the pressure element, and Ratajski makes no appeal at the odds. No bet.

2024 Czech Darts Open R1 Tip: No bet

Brendan Dolan vs. Gabriel Clemens

Dolan’s form remains poor, winning five of his last ten, and he has lost his last four Euro Tour first round matches. Six of his last ten matches have seen sub 90 averages. He is now outside of the provisional qualifying list for the finals, and he needs a win to have any chance of making it to Dortmund next week.

Clemens is 27th on the Euro Tour OOM, so he is not yet totally safe, but he is under less pressure than Dolan. The German has won five of his last ten matches, but he is playing better, and more consistently, than Dolan. All of his last ten matches have seen 90+ averages and half 95+. He has won five of his ten opening matches in Europe in 2024, including the last two, where he reached the final day in both.

Their H2H record is an ominous 7-1 to Clemens and on the Euro Tour, he is 2-0, both 6-3 wins.

Clemens is the 1.44 favourite, and rightly so, Dolan looks a bit sort at 2.95.

2024 Czech Darts Open R1 Tip: 1 point Clemens to win -1.5 legs @ 1.73 generally available

2024 Czech Darts Open R1 Tip: 0.5 point Clemens to win 6-3 @ 6.00 with Betvictor

Martin Lukeman vs. Callan Rydz

Rydz has a half decent chance of making the finals. He is 34th on the OOM, so a win here and he is in a provisional place. A loss, and he is definitely out. Lukeman needs a less realistic run to the final.

Rydz has won six of his last ten matches and he has picked up his form, which had been in bad shape. His Euro Tour form was terrible, losing five first round matches and winning just four matches in total on the 2024 Euro Tour.

He then rocked up in Switzerland at the end of last month and reached the semi-final. He only just failed to make the Grand Slam, but he has put himself in with a chance of the European Championships. He has won six of his last ten, but he has not played great with just one 95+ average and eight sub 93. His return to ‘form’ is relative.

Lukeman hasn’t had a great year on or off the board. He has lost five of his last ten matches but he has been scoring better than Rydz. Their H2H record is 4-1 to Lukeman, he has won their last four, including a 6-2 and a 6-3 win in 2024.

2024 Czech Darts Open R1 Tip: 1 point Martin Lukeman to win @ 1.80 generally available

Joe Cullen vs. Pavel Drtil

This a nice draw for Cullen. He is not in good form, losing six of his last ten matches. He reached the quarter final at last week’s Grand Slam, but was back to being rank poor in the midweek events, losing both first round matches with a sub 80 and sub ninety 90 averages. However, he should be able to get over the line here.

Drtil averaged 78.48 across his four qualifying matches yesterday. His best might match Cullen’s worst and he could do better than his odds of 6.50 suggest, but it is not a betting match for me.

2024 Czech Darts Open R1 Tip: No Bet

-JamesPunt