2025 European Championship Saturday Preview

Now, it is time for James Punt’s 2025 European Championship Saturday preview. He fired in a full house with three winners this afternoon, hopefully the Punt Express keeps on rolling.

Jermaine Wattimena vs. Ricardo Pietreczko

Wattimena was just unplayable for large parts of his match with Niko Springer last night. It was a 6-3 win and a 106.87 average. Springer did well to get three legs on the board. Wattimena has won eight of his last ten matches and hit six ton plus averages, big ton plus averages.

Pietreczko played well in his 6-4 win over Josh Rock. The Northern Irishman was far from his best but Pikachu had to dig deep and he found enough to win it. It was a 94.60 average but that is unlikely to be enough if Wattimena turns up with his A game.

He does have his duff games, so it is not a given that Wattimena will hit a ton plus average, but he has been doing just that a lot recently. Pietreczko has lost six of his last ten matches and he does have a habit of winning his first round matches on the Euro Tour but then losing in the second round.

Their H2H record is 1-1. They have not played each other since last May and Wattimena is a different player these days.

Wattimena is the 1.35 favourite, Pietreczko 3.75. I will take Wattimena to cover a big handicap.

2025 European Championship Saturday Tip: 1 point Wattimena to win -3.5 legs @ 2.15 with Ladbrokes

Nathan Aspinall vs. Danny Noppert

The Asp was a bit slow out of the blocks against Cross, but very quickly got up to speed and cruised to a 6-1 win, averaging 100.53. He has won eleven of his last twelve matches and is full of confidence.

Noppert beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3, averaged 104.88 and hit seven 180s. It was a very complete performance. Noppert has won seven of his last ten matches and he is a strong player, until he gets close to a final.

Their H2H record is 11-10 to Aspinall but it is Noppert who has won their last four and won them quite easily. They have played two long format TV matches and Aspinall won them both. There was a 10-9 win here is 2021 and an 11-9 win in the 2023 Matchplay.

This could be very good. Both players are playing well and both are very accomplished players. Another close, high-quality match? It would be no surprise.

2025 European Championship Saturday Tip: 1 point over 16.5 legs @ 1.80 generally available

2025 European Championship Saturday Tip: 1 point over 11.5 180s @ 2.10 generally available

Luke Littler vs. James Wade

Littler got a free pass against a very disappointing Van Barneveld last night. The crowd didn’t get the chance to get into him, but I got the sense that they really wanted to. Will they get the chance tonight? Maybe.

Wade was good in his 6-1 win over Mike de Decker, averaging 97.67, and he has been playing some very good darts lately, even if he has lost five of his last ten matches.

Their H2H record is 5-1 to Littler and he has won their last five. They have played three long format matches. Littler beat Wade 10-7 in the 2024 UK Open, beat him 11-2 in the 2025 UK Open final and most recently it was a 18-13 win in the Matchplay Final. Littler definitely has the bragging rights.

Littler is the 1.20 favourite and his biggest threat is that Wade gets into the match and the crowd gets into Littler. We shall see, but I will skip this match betting wise.

2025 European Championship Saturday Tip: No Bet

Luke Humphries vs. Cameron Menzies

Humphries fired a warning shot with his 6-0 win over Ratajski last night. It was a mere 109.98 average and clearly, he has been working hard on his game. He has won seven of his last ten matches but last night’s performance was a big step up on his most recent form.

Menzies was better on the doubles in his 6-3 win over Gary Anderson and it was a decent effort. He averaged 96.83 with a 60% checkout rate. That is a very good standard, but it won’t be enough if Humphries brings his A game again.

Their H2H record is 6-2 to Humphries but Menzies has made him work hard for those wins. Five required a deciding leg, but it was a bit more comfortable for Humphries in their last match, a 3-1 win in the Grand Prix three weeks ago.

They have never played a long format match and it is Humphries who is much more experienced in this kind of format.

Humphries is the 1.25 favourite, Menzies 4.50. I expect Humphries to win, but maybe Menzies can make a closer match of it than the odds suggest.

2025 European Championship Saturday Tip: 1 point over 15.5 legs @ 1.75 with Unibet

-JamesPunt