2026 European Darts GP Friday Preview – JP
2026 European Darts GP Friday Preview
James Punt has already posted his outright preview and tips, get those here. Check out his 2026 European Darts GP Friday preview and tips below.
Afternoon Reflections
It was a frustrating afternoon session. The Zonneveld vs. Barry match was a winner, but Paul Krohne missed seven doubles to land that bet and Rob Cross was not able to compete with a ton plus average by Mansell. That is -1.20 points down on the first session. Hopefully, this evening’s session goes better.
William O’Connor vs. Michael Unterbuchner
Unterbuchner came through the local qualifier and he is a very experienced player and enjoyed a lot of success in the days of the BDO. He has played in seven Euro Tour events and only ever won one match. He plays on the Challenger tour these days and is a decent player who could give O’Connor a match.
O’Connor has lost six of his last ten matches but he has won seven of his last eight Euro Tour first round matches, and beaten some decent players. He is getting the hang of winning a few matches in Europe and picking up decent money.
O’Connor is the 1.57 favourite, Unterbuchner 2.75. I can’t see any great value in this match. No bet.
2026 European Darts GP Friday Tip: No bet
Joe Cullen vs. Maik Kuivenhoven
A match very much in the same vein as the one above. Kuivenhoven is a very experienced player and a tour card holder for seven years without making any great impression on tournaments. He has won six of his last ten matches and while he lacks consistency, he has a good A game, which makes him a dangerous opponent.
Joe Cullen has won six of his last ten matches but lost two of his four first round matches on the Euro Tour in 2026. He is playing well enough, but he can just lose the plot at any moment. He was runner up in PC8 at the end of last month but lost three from five since then.
These two have met five times and Kuivenhoven has won three, albeit the last match being back in 2023. Cullen is the 1.67 favourite, Kuivenhoven 2.30. There is a bit of value in Cullen’s odds but not enough to warrant a bet.
2026 European Darts GP Friday Tip: No Bet
Peter Wright vs. Jeffrey de Zwaan
Both players are shadows of their former selves. Peter Wright is just about hanging on to his 32nd spot in the World Rankings. He really needs to stay there, but his game isn’t good enough anymore. His 12-month average has dropped below 90 (89.40) and that is Challenge Tour standard. Wright has won five of his last ten matches with seven sub 90 averages and even two sub-80s.
Jeffrey de Zwaan cuts a very frustrated player these days. A career that was blighted by injury before he could realise his potential. His 12-month average is 89.44, a full 0.04 better than Wright! De Zwaan has won seven of his last eight matches but his scoring has been all over the place. He hit a 101.96 in a Euro qualifier on Wednesday, and lost, and the match before saw a 79.70.
Their H2H record is 4-2 to Wright but they haven’t played since 2020. De Zwaan is the 1.73 favourite, Wright 2.30. If anything, the value is with Snakebite, but I couldn’t back either with stolen money. No bet.
2026 European Darts GP Friday Tip: No bet
Cameron Menzies vs. Raymond van Barneveld
Menzies is the 1.53 favourite here and RVB’s best days are behind him. Menzies is still trying to rehabilitate himself back into darts after his complete meltdown at the World Championships. He smashed his hand up quite badly but he is fit again, just mentally suspect.
His game has suffered and his 12-month average is down to 91.85. He has won five of his last ten matches and hit four sub 90 averages, but his A game has seen him hit three high 90s.
Barney has also won five of his last ten matches, hit five sub 90 averages and had a couple of decent performances.
Menzies is 4-0 vs. Barney and has had two 6-1 wins. Barney does give up very easily these days and if Menzies can get an early break, he could get another easy win.
2026 European Darts GP Friday Tip: 1 point Menzies to win -1.5 legs @ 1.83 with Betfred
Damon Heta vs. Madars Razma
Heta reached the semi-final of ET2 in mid-March, but since then he has reverted to the rather poor form that he has been in for a while now. He has lost six of his last ten matches, which tallies with his win rate of 41% in 2026. He has lost nine of his last twelve matches on the Euro Tour and it must be doing his head in.
Razma has won seven of his last ten matches and his 2026 win rate is a very respectable 65%. However, five of his last ten matches have seen sub 90 averages so he is not in great form.
Their H2H record is 2-1 to Razma, including a 6-5 win on the Euro Tour in 2024.
Heta is the 1.57 favourite, Razma 2.62. There is some value in Razma and I will take him on the handicap as it could be close.
2026 European Darts GP Friday Tip: 1 point Madars Razma to win +1.5 legs @ 1.91 with Ladbrokes
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Kim Huybrechts
A big test for our 151.00 outsider bet Kim Huybrechts, but hopefully he can bring his A game to the table. He didn’t play well in the Euro Tour qualifiers on Wednesday. He did qualify for ET7 but hit a 78.15 average when failing to qualify for ET8. He may well just have run out of gas after eleven matches in three days. Huybrechts has reached the third round of the last two Euro Tour events and has been hitting some big averages.
Dirk van Duijvenbode has won five of his last ten matches but he lost both his two first round matches in this week’s Players Championship events.
Their H2H record is 7-5 to Dirk and he has won their last six matches, four of them 6-3. We are on Huybrechts outright, but I am going to have a punt on Dirk to win 6-3 once again.
2026 European Darts GP Friday Tip: 0.5 point Dirk van Duijvenbode to win 6-3 @ 6.50 with Hills, Betfred, Boylesports
Daryl Gurney vs. Oskar Lukasiak
Oskar Lukasiak averaged 87 in his three qualifiers for this tournament. He has played in eight Players Championships in 2026 and not won a single match. He is fine at the Nordic Baltic level, but struggles against the better players, of Which Gurney is one. Lukasiak has played in two Euro Tour events and lost both first round matches.
Superchin is comfortable holding his mid 20s ranking, getting into the big tournaments and racking up the money. He has won six of his last ten matches and won his three first round matches on the Euro Tour in 2026.
Gurney is the 1.35 favourite to win this, Oskar Lukasiak 3.80. I’ll take Gurney to cover a big handicap.
2026 European Darts GP Friday Tip: 1 point Daryl Gurney to win -2.5 legs @ 2.10 with Betfair
Niko Springer vs. Robin Masino
Masino is a local qualifier and is new to me. He averaged 77.31 in the qualifier and that is as much as I have on him.
Springer has won five of his last ten matches and he is not playing well. He has hit six sub 90 averages and only one above 91. He has got lucky with the draw here.
Springer is the 1.13 favourite with Masino 8.00. It is not a betting match for me.
