Some of the big names on the Tour are already assured of playing in Dortmund later this month, but that has not stopped a solid field coming together in Basel for the fourteenth of the fifteen European Tour events scheduled for 2026.
Next week the European Championship field will be confirmed after the Dutch Darts Championship is played.
There are some big First Round matches to be played on Day 1 at the Swiss Darts Trophy before the Seeded players join the action on Saturday.
Picks from the Day and Evening Sessions in Basel can be read below.
William O'Connor to win & most 180s v Jani Haavisto: An early loss at the World Grand Prix would have been a disappointment, but William O'Connor did reach the Semi Final of a recent Players Championship event on the floor.
The experience on the stage gives him another edge and Jani Haavisto has come through a Nordic & Baltic Qualifier to earn a return to this level.
Earlier this season, Jani Haavisto did push Niels Zonneveld in a 6-4 loss on the European Tour and he is expected to come up short again.
William O'Connor can be very strong on the maximums when at his best and he can score more of those than his opponent on his way through to the Second Round.
Cameron Menzies v Cristo Reyes: This has all of the makings of a good match and there is plenty on the line for both players as they cling onto a top thirty-two Ranking that would mean participating in the European Championships.
Cameron Menzies recently won a Players Championship title and that means he is coming into this match with a bit more consistency compared with Cristo Reyes.
When at his best, Cameron Menzies is a very difficult player to beat, but the Scot can get down on himself, which makes it hard to trust him.
However, he looks a decent underdog to back in this match considering the amount of losses Cristo Reyes has suffered in recent weeks. He is much better than the World Number 71 Ranking may suggest, but Reyes may have hit a slight wall at the back end of this season and Cameron Menzies can exploit that.
Dirk van Duijvenbode to win & over 2.5 180s v Bruno Stockli: Four matches were won in the Home Qualifiers and that has earned Bruno Stockli an opportunity at the Swiss Darts Trophy.
However, he will be aware that the level needs to be improved if he is going to upset Dirk van Duijvenbode.
The Dutchman will be much happier playing in a more normal format after underperforming at the World Grand Prix and his scoring power should see him progress into the Second Round.
You do have to wonder if the opponent will not help Dirk van Duijvenbode bring the intensity he usually has on the stage and that may affect his maximum hitting.
In saying that, van Duijvenbode remains one of the bigger maximum hitters on the Tour and he can produce at least three in this First Round match.
Kevin Doets to win & over 2.5 180s v Nick Kenny: There are very few players outside of the absolute elite that have had a consistent season as strong as the one Kevin Doets has been able to put together.
He is inside the top 30 of the World Rankings, but strong performances at the remaining big tournaments could see Kevin Doets moving quickly into the top 16.
A narrow defeat to Nathan Aspinall at the World Grand Prix will have hurt, but Kevin Doets had been playing well on the floor in the build up to that tournament. The Double In format can be tough for any player to understand, but this match is in a normal format and Kevin Doets will feel his stronger scoring gives him the edge over Nick Kenny.
The Welshman has lost four of his last five matches, and it has been a year in which Nick Kenny has struggled to find his consistency.
This should come together in the First Round and Kevin Doets can add at least three maximums to a winning effort.
MY PICKS: William O'Connor to Win & Most 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Cameron Menzies @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Dirk van Duijvenbode to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Kevin Doets to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Darts 2026: 146-175, - 16.32 Units (320 Units Staked, - 5.10% Yield)
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