Friday PDC World Cup Of Darts Tips – James Punt
Friday PDC World Cup Of Darts Preview
James Punt has already penned an outright preview, check it out here. His Friday PDC World Cup Of Darts tips for selected first round matches are below.
New Zealand vs. Switzerland
The Kiwis may not have been able to select their strongest squad, but in Ben Robb and Warren Perry, they have the very experienced (old) Warren Perry and the youngster Ben Robb who we saw at the World Championship in December. He has played in three World series events, with his sole win being against Whitlock in the 2019 New Zealand Darts Masters.
New Zealand have played in ten World Cups and made the second round three times and the quarter final once. Robb is making his debut and Warren has only progressed beyond the first round once in his three previous appearances.
Winless Swiss
Switzerland have never won a World Cup match from two attempts. This is an all new line up with two players who are better than in previous. Bellmont plays on The Challenge Tour and has qualified for three Euro Tour events this year, losing all three first round matches. He played in the mid-week players championship events but lost both his opening matches. Junghans is another Challenge Tour player and he lost his only Euro tour match this year.
New Zealand have it in terms of big event experience and should justify odds of 1.73.
Friday PDC World Cup Tips: 1 point New Zealand to win @ 1.73 generally available
Ireland vs. Canada
Here we have all four players who are tour card holders. Campbell only got his this year and he is still finding his feet, but he came through the European Challenge tour in 2021, winning his card via the OOM after winning three titles. He has played in three World Championships losing all three matches but has performed well enough and is a good player.
Jeff Smith has struggled with trying to play on the tour whilst commuting back and forth to Canada. During Covid, that was a nightmare and his form suffered. Campbell was runner up in players championship 13 in April and his A game is top class, but his seasonal average is just 90.1. Smith has lost seven of his last ten matches and is now the weaker of the two players, but there is a good game in there. These two have played two first round matches at won one.
Former Finalists
Lennon and O’Connor went all the way to the final in 2019. This will be their fifth year in the tournament but they have won just the one opening match. They have tended to get tough draws, but in 2019 they were lucky to face Greece.
Canada is a tougher proposition than Greece, but the Irish are the 1.67 favourites. In the mid-week tournaments, Lennon hit two ton plus averages but only won one match. He has won five of his last ten. O’Connor has lost six of his last ten matches. Neither are in good form, but they are the more experienced and consistent players.
Ireland should prevail, but their first round record together isn’t great and while Canada are no world beaters, they are capable.
Friday PDC World Cup Tips: 1 point over 7.5 legs @ 1.80 with Boylesports
Austria vs. Finland
Austria are perennial over achievers in this event. And this line up has never lost a first round match from six, and never dropped more than two legs. Finland’s Marko Kantele has a new partner in Aki Paavilainen and this is a weak line up. Another easy win for Austria is on the cards.
Friday PDC World Cup Tips: 1 point Under 6.5 legs @ 2.50 with Ladbrokes
Friday PDC World Cup Tips: 0.5 point Austria to win 5-0 @ 5.50 with Boylesports
Wales vs. Philippines
Another mismatch. The Philippines once again is led by Lourence Ilagan, who has played five and lost five. He is a bit of a character but overrated for it. They have never been white washed with him in the line up but lost three 1-5.
Friday PDC World Cup Tips: 0.5 point Wales to win 5-1 @ 5-1 @ 3.25 with SpreadEx
The Netherlands vs. Brazil
This might have been a classic football match once upon a time, but as a darts match it is another mismatch. Diogo Portella has represented Brazil for all five of their World Cups and they have won two first round matches, against Switzerland and Denmark, but facing Dirk van Duijvenbode and Danny Noppert is a different level. He has partnered Arthur Valle twice, losing both times, 1-5 to Sweden and 2-5 to England.
Dirk can get a bit nervous in first round matches, but hopefully having a partner to hit the doubles will settle him down and they can wrap this up quicky.
