Saturday European Darts GP Preview

James Punt has already posted an ante-post preview, check it out here. He has four bets for this afternoon and evening, his Saturday European Darts GP tips are below.

Ryan Searle vs. Adam Gawlas

A repeat of last weekend’s third round match, in which it was Gawlas who won 6-5. He was a bit lucky and had the crowd on his side, but Searle was poor…again. His euro tour form in 2022 is not great. He has played 11 and won 5. His euro tour average is 94.6, good, but shy of his seasonal average of 96.9.

Clearly, Searle is still getting used to playing the euro tour week in, week out. He is a player who takes his time to improve. His rise up the rankings has been patient and steady. He never exploded onto the scene, he just learns and gets better at his own pace. He will crack the euro tour, but he may still be worth taking one until he does.

Confidence Boost

I expected Gawlas to lose yesterday against Ryan Joyce, but he put in a very good performance, averaging 100.3 and winning 6-3. Perhaps that great run to the quarter final last weekend has given him a big confidence boost?

Gawlas is a very deliberate player, an aimer rather than a thrower. Searle is very much a thrower and a player who likes a quick tempo. He wouldn’t get the gig as Gary Anderson’s practice partner otherwise.

A clash of styles, a favourite whose confidence on the euro tour is still fragile, against a youngster who is feeling good and confident.

The odds on Gawlas are just too big in my opinion. He may lose, but the odds make him the value bet.

Saturday European Darts GP Tip: 1 point Adam Gawlas to win @ 3.40 with BET365

Daryl Gurney vs. Eddie Lovely

A great opportunity for Superchin to get into the action on Sunday. Lovely got a bye into the second round thanks to Peter Wright’s withdrawal but his form suggests that he will get no further. His 2002 win rate is 36%, he has lost seven of his last ten matches and his seasonal average is 89.7. His highest average in his last 50 matches is 99.5 and he has had a couple of 98’s, so he can play, but the norm is nearer 90.

They have met three times, all in the last two years and Superchin has won all three, but only the first was a comfortable 6-1 win. The other two went to 6-4.

Gurney is by far the more experienced player and Lovely, who won a tour card in January 2021, is making his euro tour debut. There is the chance he might freeze, but if not, he can be stubborn and if Daryl takes his foot off the gas, he could get a few legs.

Saturday European Darts GP Tip: 0.5 point Daryl Gurney to win 6-4 @ 6.00 generally available

Jose de Sousa vs. Andrew Gilding

Gilding is enjoying some good form of late, making the final of PC 9 last month and his seasonal average is 95.1. That is good and an improvement of 5 points on 2021. He is putting the work in and reaping the rewards.

Their H2H record is 1-1 and Gilding beat Jose 6-3 in that run to the final of PC9 last month. De Sousa reached the semi-final last week and the signs are there that he is returning to better form after a long slump, but this is still a best of eleven match, and he cannot afford a slow start.

Gilding beat John Michael 6-1 yesterday to get himself into the tournament and while he isn’t a contender for the title, he wants more prize money and given that he is scoring well, he is a dangerous opponent and might get more out of the match than the bookies suggest.

De Sousa is the 1.54 favourite, Gilding 2.75 and it is worth taking a chance on the outsider.

Saturday European Darts GP Tip: 1 point Andrew Gilding to win @ 2.75 with Hills, Ladbrokes, Betfred

Jonny Clayton vs. Adrian Lewis

These two have played seven best of eleven matches over the last six years and five were under 9.5 legs. They have only ever had one match with less than a three leg margin. Under 9.5 legs is just 1.61, still not a bad price, but surely it will be Clayton who prevails. Lewis isn’t scoring well on the whole, he still has his moments, but his euro tour average in 2022 is 89.9.

Saturday European Darts GP Tip: 2 points Jonny Clayton to win -2.5 legs @ 1.83 with SportingIndex, Betfred

That will be it from me for this tournament. More next week with the Dutch Darts Championship.

-JamesPunt