2024 European Championship Saturday Preview

Now, it is time for James Punt’s 2024 European Championship Saturday betting preview. He fired in two more tasty winners this afternoon, fingers crossed for more of the same.

Michael van Gerwen vs. Gary Anderson

Both players averaged a ton when beating their respective opponents in the first round. Anderson beat an out of sorts Bunting and MVG beat an equally underwhelming Gabriel Clemens.

MVG has won eight of his last ten matches, and only a loss to Mickey Mansell really let a very good recent form record down. Anderson has won seven of his last ten matches and while he is not as consistent as MVG, his best is better.

Their H2H record is enormous. They have played each other seventy one times and MVG has won forty nine, Anderson nineteen and there were three draws. They have only played twice in the last two years and MVG won both.

The two have played eight best of 19 leg matches and MVG has won seven. They have met in this tournament once, way back on 2015, in the final, and MVG won that 11-10. It is all pretty old form, but it is pointing very much towards MVG.

Anderson A Heavier Scorer

Anderson is the heavier scorer these days, but so much of his form is on the floor. Because he doesn’t play regularly on the Euro Tour, his stage experience is limited in the Majors and he hasn’t had a lot of long runs in them in recent years. I feel that his semi-retired schedule is a negative when it comes to big matches.

Yes, he has been there seen it and got the t-shirt, but MVG still puts a shift in. He manages his calendar, but he plays more darts. Anderson is a natural talent and doesn’t have to play to be good, but maybe his recent record in Majors suggests otherwise.

2024 European Championship Saturday Tip: 1 point Michael van Gerwen to win @ 1.85 with Ladbrokes

James Wade vs. Jermaine Wattimena

Wade averaged over a ton when beating Rob Cross 6-3 last night. It was an impressive display by the tournament specialist. Wade has won six of his last ten matches and is playing well, if not totally consistent.

Wattimena continued his good run of form by beating Peter Wright 6-0. I say beating, but Wright never turned up and he put in a dreadful display, averaging 74.81. Embarrassing really.

Wattimena has won seven of his last ten matches and is having a good season. Ultimately, he is a journeyman pro, and overrated. His record in Majors is not good and is has no record of being a big match player, but he is playing as well as he ever has, so if he is going to make an impression, it could be now.

Wade on the other hand is a very accomplished big match player and has made the final here three times in the last six years.

Their H2H record is 7-1 to Wade, and on TV 2-0. They have not met since 2022. Half of their matches have required a deciding leg. They have played just one long format match and Wade won that 12-10.

This has the look of a win for Wade, but maybe another close match. Wade is the 1.65 favourite, Wattimena 2.30. The match odds look about right but I will have a go on a close match.

2024 European Championship Saturday Tip: 1 point over 16.5 legs @ 1.80 with Ladbrokes

Luke Humphries vs. Jonny Clayton

Humphries was in imperious form once again last night, beating Aspinall 6-2 and averaging 106.5. That is six ton plus averages on the bounce. He is in top form and his top form is the very best top form. We are at the business end of the season and Humphries means business. He has won eight of his last ten matches.

Clayton beat Chris Dobey 6-4 in a solid, if not spectacular, display. He was rock solid on his throw, winning five legs in 15 or fewer darts. Dobey missed darts to win the first leg, and that was that in the end. Clayton has won seven of his last ten matches.

Firepower

Will Clayton be able to live with the firepower of Humphries? Probably not. Aspinall averaged just under 99 last night and could only win two legs. Humphries is so hard to break, and puts his opponents throw under constant pressure.

I feel that if Clayton is to win, he needs Humphries to have an off night, and he hasn’t had one of those recently. Clayton has only won one second round match in the European Championship, Humphries two from three.

Humphries is the 1.30 favourite, Clayton 3.80. That is a bit harsh on The Ferret. He is 5-3 in their H2H record and on TV it is 2-1 to Clayton. Humphries has won their last two matches, the most recent a 3-1 win in the Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago. Humphries was not great on the doubles in that match. It was 10-8 in legs and I would not be surprised to see another close match. Certainly closer than the odds suggest.

2024 European Championship Saturday Tip: 1 point over 16.5 legs @ 2.10 generally available

Andrew Gilding vs. Ricardo Pietreczko

Not a match I was expecting to be previewing. Pikachu beat Damon Heta 6-5, with the Aussie not firing on TV, again. Pietreczko did average a ton and deserved the win. He will have the very large, well refreshed, crowd on his side, and poor old Gilding, the underdog hero when beating Luke Littler 6-4 last night, is going to get the full treatment.

Pietreczko is not in good form, losing six of his last ten, but he has started playing better in the last five or so matches. Gilding has won six of his last ten matches but is very inconsistent.

Their H2H record is 3-1 to Gilding, so it may be that Pietreczko is not a fan of the strange charms of Goldfinger, who does just freak some opponents out. That and his glacial pace. Ricardo did win their last match, a 6-5 win at the Flanders Darts Trophy last month, when he reached the final.

Gilding is the 1.90 favourite, with Pietreczko 2.00. The odds look about right and this is a very tricky one to call. Gilding’s inconsistency makes him a poor betting proposition, unless he is playing a speed merchant.

Pietreczko has home advantage and is showing signs that his form is returning. He got seven legs off MVG this time last year after beating Ross Smith in the first round. Pietreczko has only played three best of 19 leg matches, and lost the lot, that 7-10 against MVG his best effort.

I will happily pass on this one. No bet.

2024 European Championship Saturday Tip: No Bet

-JamesPunt