The very top names will be heading to the United States for a Masters event next weekend, but the European Tour will feature plenty of the leading names and a number of others chasing spots in the next big Ranking event at the World Matchplay.
Another European Tour event will take place in three weeks time, but it is the Slovak Darts Open and the next two Players Championship tournaments played early next month that will determine the thirty-two names competing for the 2026 World Matchplay title.
That event will begin on the same weekend as the World Cup Final and there are a number of players competing this weekend who will be looking for strong runs as they cling onto one of the Qualifying spots for the next big Ranking event on the calendar.
There are some pretty solid players taking part on Day 1 of European Tour 9 as the First Round is scheduled to be played across two Sessions and then the Seeds will get involved in the action on Saturday across another two Sessions.
Both Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are skipping the event after winning the World Cup of Darts last Sunday, but a number of Premier League players are competing and this should be another good weekend of action for the fans to enjoy.
Karel Sedlacek - 1.5 legs v Tyler Thorpe: After helping Czechia reach the Knock Out Stage of the World Cup of Darts last weekend, Karel Sedlaceck had a decent run at Players Championship 21 earlier this week.
His numbers were solid in both Players Championship floor events played on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Karel Sedlacek is a much more experienced player at the European Tour level compared with his opponent.
Tyler Thorpe has flashed his potential this season, but he has struggled to get over the line and another couple of early defeats on the floor cannot be helping.
Credit has to be given to him for battling through the Qualifiers to earn a place in Slovakia, but Tyler Thorpe will need to be better if he is going to beat Evil Charlie in the First Round.
On current form, Karel Sedlacek should have enough to come through without the need for a deciding Leg.
Andrew Gilding to win & over 1.5 180s v Mervyn King: Two veterans meet for a second time in the space of a few days after Andrew Gilding won the last four Legs to get the better of Mervyn King in the Players Championship on Tuesday.
Goldfinger will recognise that he will need to be better if he is going to have a more comfortable day in the office, but he will also be well aware that Mervyn King continues ot be very dangerous on his day.
The latter has put together a solid amount of wins over the last month, although King did not need to be at full tilt to come through Qualifiers for European Tour 9.
Both players are capable of throwing some high quality darts, but Andrew Gilding is capable of maintaining his level for longer and he can produce a couple of maximums in any winning effort.
Kevin Doets - 2.5 legs v Owen Bates: This is a spread that leaves little room for error, but Kevin Doets continues to operate with real confidence and that should be enough to get through this First Round match.
He is most definitely on a trajectory to earn a Seed at these European Tour events in the near future and Kevin Doets is 8th on the one year Ranking list to show the kind of improvement he continues to make.
Owen Bates has lost eight of his last ten matches, although the three Qualifying wins should be something that gives him belief. One of those came against former World Champion Michael Smith, but Bates has struggled in the main this season and the inexperience of this kind of stage could work against him.
As long as Kevin Doets remains focused and can maintain intensity, he should be able to win this one and clear the awkward handicap number for a best of eleven Leg match.
Kim Huybrechts to win & over 1.5 180s v Keane Barry: Time is running out for players to earn a spot in the World Matchplay and this is a big First Round with that in mind.
Out of the two players, Kim Huybrechts is in a closer spot to pick up a spot in Blackpool next month.
He began this season wondering whether he would return to the kind of form that hae has previously produced, but Kim Huybrechts has shown there is still plenty left in the tank. Of course it is going to be difficult to get right in amongst the elite, but he will believe he is one of the best 32 players on the Tour and the recent results would back Huybrechts up.
Keane Barry needs three very big runs to earn his own spot in the World Matchplay, but it has been a tough month for the World Number 56 and that may show up here.
The heavier scoring can come from Kim Huybrechts and that may put him in a position to win a match where he places a couple of maximums on the board.
MY PICKS: Karel Sedlacek - 1.5 Legs @ 1.66 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Andrew Gilding to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Kevin Doets - 2.5 Legs @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Kim Huybrechts to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Darts 2026: 84-109, - 11.26 Units (190 Units Staked, - 5.93% Yield)
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