European Championships – Friday Night Round 1 Games Preview

The second half of round 1 takes place in Germany tonight, with another 8 short fire games to enjoy.

Last night showed again that the German darts fans are a very keen lot – who can keep quiet for pressure throws, but on the whole like a good sing song!  Must be all that great German beer.

Oh and I think Chris Mason proved again why he’s such a great pundit last night – a calm voice playing down the hype over Nicholson and Taylor.

Remember if you fancy a bet (and get a £25 free matched bet for signing up), Match Betting can be found here.  Or if you prefer to have a punt on the tournament outright winner, click here.  Cheers and good luck!

First game is between two stalwarts of the game, Walsh and Jones.  They both are solid floor players, with Jones probably having the best of the TV tournaments.  Bookies have em close, and I can’t split them.  2nd game and the bookies have Chisnall ahead of Klaasen.   I’ve been bigging Chisnall up the last few tournaments, but he’s not really ignited since his good show at the UK Open.  I’m not sure he will travel well… so I think the bookies may have this one wrong.  Ronnie Baxter is slight favourite against van Gerwen, and I think that’s right – the dutch youngster still has yet to get back the form which made him a world contender.  The Rocket usually shows his best form on TV.

In an all European tie, I fancy Alcinas to beat Huybrechts, but don’t go putting you house on it!  Wade is a (rightly) a massive favourite vs. Caris – and nothing we’ve seen in the last few months suggests that Caris will be able to beat the Machine.   Fans will hope the James Wade lovely girlfriend Gemma will be in attendance too.  World champ Adrian Lewis takes on the dangerious fast throwing Vincent van der Voort… and as it’s the ‘floor tournament’ first to 6, I do fancy VvdV for an upset here – it’s a format that seems to go well with his game.  Lewis often needs a leg or two to fire up.   I’m not sure why, but I think I favour Andy Smith tonight over Wes Newton – only because Wes has to have a bad game at some point, just the law of averages!  He’s a big favourite with the bookies.   A month ago the last game would have been tipped as fairly on-sided, but since Andy Hamilton suddenly regained his true form in the WMP, hsi game vs. Barney is far harder to call.   I still think the dutchman will edge it.. as I’m sure there will be quite a few dutch supporters there tonight to cheer him on.

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