World Matchplay Darts Day 9 Pick 2026- Final (Sunday 26th July)

The two stronger players both came through Semi Final matches without facing too much resistance against Dutch opponents and now Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price have one more match to win if they want to lift the World Matchplay trophy.

My thoughts on the World Matchplay Final can be read below.

Luke Littler over 15.5 180s v Gerwyn Price: The level produced by Luke Littler over the past week makes it almost impossible to imagine anything other than him lifting the trophy at the end of this match on Sunday.

So many players have looked beaten before the match against Littler has even begun, but credit has to be given to the World Number 1 for the numbers that have been put together.

He is hitting treble 20 for fun and Luke Littler has racked up the maximums with another sixteen produced in just twenty-two Legs against Dirk van Duijvenbode in the Semi Final.

The rate of the maximum hitting is simply outrageous, but Luke Littler has proven time and time again that he is playing with an ability to maintain the current levels we are watching.

Gerwyn Price will always head to the oche full of belief and he can offer some resistance having looked like he is getting stronger and stronger the longer he has been in this tournament.

The Semi Final in the Premier League saw Luke Littler edge Gerwyn Price 10-9 and the Welshman has certainly been able to push the top Seed.

However, Price will do well to ignore the fact he has lost nine in a row against Luke Littler and that looks like it will become ten by the end of this Final.

The chances are that Gerwyn Price will be able to score well enough to at least give himself an opportunity to win Legs, but that may also give Luke Littler the room from which he can surpass this total set for his personal maximums.

After adding those from the Semi Final, Luke Littler has now hit fifty-four maximums in eighty Legs played in this tournament.

It would be a surprise if we have fewer than twenty-five Legs in this Final and, on current rate, that would be enough for Luke Littler to surpass this number and the confidence of the World Number 1 means it is the easy market to back.

MY PICKS: Luke Littler Over 15.5 180s @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Matchplay: 14-13, + 2.35 Units (27 Units Staked, + 8.70% Yield)

World Matchplay Darts Day 8 Picks 2026 (Saturday 25th July)

The absence of Luke Humphries has made the World Matchplay feel like a tournament that Luke Littler is going to win, but credit has to be given to him for the level being produced.

It may have been easy to drop the standard, but Littler is not built like that and his averages have been exceptional throughout the week.

Next up is Dirk van Duijvenbode, but this is a big test for the Dutchman even if he has been playing really well himself.

The second Semi Final was set on Friday when Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price held off opponents that had fought back towards the end of the last eight matches. These two are familiar with one another through the Premier League meetings, but the winner will know that another mountain stands between them and the title here IF Luke Littler does come through the top half of the draw.

Luke Littler over 11.5 180s & Dirk van Duijvenbode 1+ 100+ checkout: The World Matchplay has felt like a procession for Luke Littler as he continues to produce truly impressive numbers in dismissing all those in front of him.

It says something that the handicap for this Semi Final has been set at 8.5 Legs, but Dirk van Duijvenbode has shown enough this week to offer some resistance.

Wins over Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson will have been in matches where the fans were firmly behind the opponent and so Dirk van Duijvenbode is unlikely to be upset by the atmosphere. Instead the Dutchman has to focus on what he has been doing well this week and that is hitting plenty of big scores and then showing composure when the doubles have needed to be popped off.

Combination finishing has really helped his cause and Dirk van Duijvenbode is likely going to need at least a couple of 100+ checkouts if he is to at least give Luke Littler something to think about.

Four of those big checkouts were needed to see off Gary Anderson and Dirk van Duijvenbode had another against Michael van Gerwen so can secure his part of this selection.

Luke Littler has been crushing the maximums for fun throughout this tournament and he has had thirty-eight in three matches here and can contribute at least thirteen in this Semi Final. The layers are taking no chances compared with the Quarter Final prices for his maximums, but the World Number 1 can put plenty more on the board in this match and it is going to surprise no one to state that this is a Semi Final that Littler should win.

Gerwyn Price to win & both players 1+ 100+ checkout v Gian van Veen: This is going to be the eighth meeting between these players in 2026 and it is Gerwyn Price who leads with five wins from the previous seven matches.

All of those have been in the Premier League under the best of eleven format, but this is a race to seventeen Legs and that should mean a few more twists and turns.

However, the head to head cannot be dismissed and especially not when you consider how the two players have been performing at the World Matchplay.

Gerwyn Price started slowly, but is continuing to improve in each match played and that can only be a positive for him. A similar level to the one that beat Ross Smith would make The Ice Man a solid favourite to win this Semi Final and Price is rightly expected to do that.

He will be looking to come out and play at a similar level, but Gian van Veen is well aware that he needs to be more consistent if he is going to upset the odds again in this tournament.

Credit has to be given to Gian van Veen for the finishing qualities shown, and he will need all of his combination finishing in this one. The big checkouts have been a feature of the wins Gian van Veen has produced in Blackpool and both of these players are more than capable of finding at least one big finish during the course of this Semi Final.

As has been mentioned, Gerwyn Price deserves the edge and he can reach the World Matchplay Final again.

MY PICKS: Luke Littler Over 12.5 180s & Dirk van Duijvenbode 1+ 100+ Checkout @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gerwyn Price to Win & Both Players 1+ 100+ Checkout @ 1.75 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Matchplay: 12-13, + 0.55 Units (25 Units Staked, + 2.20% Yield)

World Matchplay Darts Day 7 Picks 2026 (Friday 24th July)

It is going to take a monumental effort for anyone to beat Luke Littler in the form the defending Champion has produced this week and you have to imagine he is going to be entering the remaining World Ranking events as a short price favourite.

We are not quite at the Phil Taylor level of dominating and that is largely down to what Luke Humphries can produce, but we are getting closer and closer to those kind of outright prices. The more Luke Littler continues to win the big TV tournaments, the more people are going to have him down as a strong favourite to win any event he enters.

This week there is no Humphries in the draw to try and slow down the momentum that Luke Littler has picked up at major events- his record in longer format matches is quite simply ridiculous and Littler is going to be a big favourite to win a third straight World Championship later in the year and into the early part of 2027.

On Friday we will be a step closer to seeing who may eventually be standing opposed to Luke Littler in any Final as the bottom half as the two Quarter Final matches scheduled.

Both have a huge amount of potential on paper, but darts are still played up on a stage and it is all about which of the players can hold themselves together the best on the night.

The one disadvantage for those in the bottom half is that there are no more rest days between matches and that does mean a bit more pressure to avoid being dragged into a slog of a contest to drain energy ahead of the weekend.

Ross Smith-Gerwyn Price both over 7.5 180s & 1+ 100+ checkout: It was Ross Smith standing behind Cameron Menzies and helping his fellow professional out when the Scot fainted and felt very ill in the Second Round.

Ultimately that led to a withdrawal and Smith made it through to the Quarter Final after playing just three Legs.

He had shown he was feeling pretty good having thrown three maximums in that time on the stage, but this is going to be a different test for Ross Smith in the last eight. This time Ross Smith may feel like the underdog and under some pressure to deliver the big scoring to try and stay with Gerwyn Price in what is only the second meeting in two years.

Of course Ross Smith should take a lot of confidence from the fact that he beat Gerwyn Price 11-9 here two years ago, but he is going to have to be better for longer in this Quarter Final format.

Ross Smith can do that and he is very capable of delivering at least eight maximums and one big checkout during the course of this match.

At the same time, Ross Smith will be well aware that the Gerwyn Price that crushed Rob Cross in the Second Round looked to be in much better form than the one that scraped through the First Round against Martin Schindler.

The scoring was much better in the Second Round and Gerwyn Price also showed composure with his doubles and that is why he is set as the favourite in this match.

However, it is expected to be a close one with the sole meeting this year ending in a Price 8-6 win on the European Tour as he picked up another title. He can match those numbers that are expected of Ross Smith in what is expected to be a competitive match right to the end and one in which we are focusing on the stats rather than trying to pick a winner.

Gian van Veen 2+ 100+ checkouts & over 26.5 total legs v James Wade: These two players produced a very good Quarter Final at the World Matchplay twelve months ago, which was eventually won 16-13 by James Wade, but Gian van Veen will feel he was the better player on the day.

After rallying to beat Wessel Nijman, Gian van Veen will be a slight favourite to get the better of James Wade in the 2026 Quarter Final, although the Dutchman will be aware that he needs to lift his level.

Recent weeks has seen the form fluctuate and that will not get the job done against someone like James Wade who is playing some top class darts.

Despite what he may have said himself, James Wade put together a really good performance to see off Ryan Searle in the Second Round and averaged just shy of triple digits. That is a level that will make things very difficult for any player, barring perhaps Luke Littler, and James Wade has always enjoyed playing at this venue and at this tournament.

Nothing will come easy for either player, but the expectation is that Gian van Veen is going to have to continue to find some big finishes to keep himself pushing forward in this Quarter Final.

He has five 100+ checkouts already in the tournament and the combination finishing remains a real strength for Gian van Veen.

James Wade is never going to go away easily and especially not at this tournament so we should see both players reach at least eleven Legs each and putting this selection together does offer up a decent price without having to back either player to win in what should be another close, competitive Quarter Final.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith-Gerwyn Price Both Over 7.5 180s & 1+ 100+ Checkout @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen 2+ 100+ Checkouts & Over 26.5 Total Legs @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Matchplay: 10-13, - 1.80 Units (23 Units Staked, - 7.82% Yield)

World Matchplay Darts Day 6 Picks 2026 (Thursday 23rd July)

You can only hope that Cameron Menzies has not suffered a serious illness after he was forced to withdraw from his Second Round match after just three Legs had been completed.

He looked fine after taking the lead with a winning double in the third Leg, but suddenly had a bout of dizziness on the stage and it was soon announced that Menzies was not going to be able to continue.

Ross Smith moves through, but the thoughts of all of the peers would have been with Cameron Menzies who had produced a big win in the First Round and who has been in decent form over the last few weeks as he finally looked to be fulfilling some of the potential.

The show had to go on at the World Matchplay and the Quarter Final line up has been set.

The top half of the draw will be in action on Thursday with the format now expanded to a best of thirty-one contest and that also means a slightly later start to the session. It will then be the turn of the bottom half on Friday before the Semi Final and Final is completed over the course of the weekend.

After this weekend is completed, the PDC Tour moves into a slight hiatus- there are two Players Championship events to be played next week, but then the World Series takes over with back to back Masters events Down Under in Australia and New Zealand in consecutive weeks.

Once again a couple of Players Championship tournaments will be played before the next European Tour event at the Hungarian Darts Trophy at the end of August.

It should mean all eight players left in the World Matchplay can be completely focused on the task in front of them and that is winning one of the big Majors on the Tour and we should have a decent four days of Darts left in Blackpool.

Gary Anderson - 2.5 legs v Dirk van Duijvenbode: All credit has to be given to Dirk van Duijvenbode for the way he handled the pressure as Michael van Gerwen pushed him into extra Legs for a second match in a row.

Once again Dirk van Duijvenbode found a way, much as he did in the First Round against Chris Dobey, and this is a player who has found plenty of heavy scoring.

This makes him dangerous, while van Duijvenbode is also hitting his doubles at a decent rate.

However, Dirk van Duijvenbode will be aware that he may need to be even better if he is going to upset Gary Anderson who has been far too good for Ryan Joyce and Jonny Clayton.

Gary Anderson has not been at his absolute best, but he has been piling up big scores and has looked very comfortable when it comes to finishing off Legs and The Flying Scotsman remains a very strong player. The question is how will his darts hold up the longer he has to stay on the stage and this is a best of thirty-one Quarter Final, but Anderson has not had as many dips as Dirk van Duijvenbode and that can ultimately make the difference in the match.

When they met at the UK Open, Gary Anderson was a little too strong for Dirk van Duijvenbode and that may be the case when they meet in Blackpool in a big Quarter Final.

Luke Littler over 11.5 180s v Josh Rock: The layers are not anticipating a lot of resistance from Josh Rock in this World Matchplay Quarter Final, but that does feel like it is a little harsh on the Northern Irishman.

He has not hit the heights of 2025, but Josh Rock has given Luke Littler something to think about in meetings in 2026 and that has to give him some encouragment.

Of course it should be stated that not many are going to be able to live with the standards Luke Littler has produced in the first two Rounds as he looks to defend the title won last year. Nathan Aspinall averaged over 100 and yet it never felt like he was going to beat Luke Littler, who averaged over 113 to follow up his First Round 109+ average.

The World Number 1 can blitz past any opponent that stands in front of him and there is the feeling that there will be at least one session that ends in a whitewash and Luke Littler should be good enough to move into the Semi Final again.

That means getting to at least sixteen Legs and Luke Littler has been absolutely spot on his rhythm when it comes to attacking the treble 20- backing that up is the fact he hit one nine darter and missed a double for a second in his Second Round win.

Luke Littler has won twenty-one Legs in this tournament and he has thrown twenty-one maximums, while he had nine in twenty Legs when these two met at the UK Open earlier this year.

The top Seed has looked so much more comfortable here though and Littler can produce at least twelve maximums in this Quarter Final contest.

MY PICKS: Gary Anderson - 2.5 Legs @ 1.72 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Luke Littler Over 11.5 180s @ 2.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

World Matchplay: 9-12, - 1.90 Units (21 Units Staked, - 9.05% Yield)

World Matchplay Darts Day 5 Picks 2026 (Wednesday 22nd July)

As soon as the draw was made for the World Matchplay, the expectation of the fans would have been that there were going to be high quality matches right from the opening day in Blackpool.

No one has been let down by what we have been watching over the first four days and Day 5 is set to complete the Quarter Final lineup after what looks to be another good looking session.

Luke Humphries losing in the First Round has opened up this half of the draw, but that may also mean players have to deal with the extra pressure that comes when an opportunity has opened up.

It really could come down to which of the players handles that best to take their place in the Sunday Final, but there are going to be challenges that have to be overcome over the next few days beginning with the Second Round opponent that will have to be beaten.

Ross Smith to win & over 5.5 180s v Cameron Menzies: You cannot blame Cameron Menzies for the emotional reaction after beating Luke Humphries in the First Round and especially not when you consider he reeled in the 'big fish' to secure the 10-7 win.

It was a really strong performance from Cameron Menzies and credit has to be given to him for holding off a strong rally that Luke Humphries had put together. The mental side of the sport has always been one that Menzies has struggled to deal with and so it will be a huge boost in confidence for him and his supporters that he was able to handle all that was thrown at him by the World Number 2.

Backing up the victory is going to be challenging regardless of who the opponent would be, but but backing it up against Ross Smith may be extra challenging.

Not only has Ross Smith beaten Cameron Menzies three times on the European Tour this season, but each of those wins have become easier and easier for the higher Ranked player.

The last of those ended in a 7-0 whitewash, but Ross Smith will be expecting more from the opponent in this one.

While that is a fair point, it also should be said that Ross Smith was in really good form in the First Round even if he was not very happy with his own performance. Big scoring was backed up by big finishing and Smudger may have a little too much of both for Cameron Menzies to handle.

Ross Smith was finding the big trebles regularly in the First Round and he can reach at least six maximums in winning this Second Round match.

Gian van Veen 2+ 100+ checkouts v Wessel Nijman: Gian van Veen is the higher Ranked of these compatriots, but Wessel Nijman comes into this match as the favourite and that is largely down to the kind of darts he has been playing all year.

He is now up to World Number 14 and Wessel Nijman has moved past Danny Noppert as the next Dutchman that is likely going to be invited into the Premier League.

Winning a big tournament may push his credentials forward and Wessel Nijman has to handle the pressure of expectation with many likely tipping him to come out of the bottom half of the draw that is missing Luke Humphries.

He will not want to take anything for granted against Gian van Veen, although the latter will be aware that his level needs to be raised.

Where Gian van Veen can make the difference is with his finishing and putting the late Leg combinations together has been a strength of the World Number 3. He had three 100+ Checkouts in the First Round and needed a couple more to beat Wessel Nijman on the European Tour back in February.

Since then, Wessel Nijman has beaten Gian van Veen and he is the right player being favoured, but the latter is someone who can produce a couple of big finishes to turn the momentum back in his own favour.

Gian van Veen may need those finishers in his bid for an upset and he looks capable of hitting at least two 100+ Checkouts in this Second Round match.

Rob Cross v Gerwyn Price: Two former World Champions meet for a place in the World Matchplay Quarter Final and you have to believe the underdog can give you a real run for your money.

Rob Cross has lifted his level over the last two months and that has enabled him to force his way into this tournament when it looked like the former Champion in Blackpool was going to miss out completely.

In the time since Cross won here, Gerwyn Price has reached the Final and he remains a Premier League player where the Englishman is not.

However, Price has not been playing much in recent weeks and that looked clear as he struggled against Martin Schindler in the First Round before the latter lost his way. Unlike Schindler, Rob Cross is playing with a lot more confidence and unlikely to let The Ice Man off the hook, although the expectation is that Gerwyn Price has to be much better than he was on Monday.

Matches between these players have been pretty competitive, but it has been over a year since they last faced each other.

On current form the edge has to be with Rob Cross and he can find a way to win this one, although nothing ever comes easy against someone like Gerwyn Price, who should be better with a win under the belt.

James Wade-Ryan Searle over 17.5 legs & over 8.5 180s: The final Second Round match features two players who are very capable performers on the stage and it should be a close contest between James Wade and Ryan Searle.

James Wade is a former World Matchplay Champion and reached the Final here twelve months ago so clearly enjoys the format. He was a very good winner in the First Round and showcased strong scoring with his usual composed finishing and Wade will certainly feel he can match the run from 2025 out of this bottom half of the draw.

The Quarter Final is as far as Ryan Searle has reached at the World Matchplay, but he was a World Championship Semi Finalist in the last edition of that tournament and that has to be respected.

Throughout this season, Ryan Searle has played at a steady level and his own win in the First Round deserves respect having held off all that William O'Connor was throwing at him.

Ryan Searle is every bit as capable of James Wade in throwing decent scores, but also finishing well, and this best of twenty-one leg Second Round match should see both players win at least seven Legs.

Both are perhaps underrated maximum hitters, which is reflected by the total for the match, and the longer this one is able to go, the more likely James Wade and Ryan Searle will combine for at least nine 180s as well.

In the First Round, Ryan Searle only had three maximums, but had racked up plenty of other big scores, while James Wade produced seven. Those came in sixteen and seventeen Legs respectively and this is a Second Round match that may need at least a couple more Legs to decide a winner, which should aid the two players in combining to surpass this maximum line.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith to Win & Over 5.5 180s @ 2.30 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen 2+ 100+ Checkouts @ 2.50 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Rob Cross @ 2.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

James Wade-Ryan Searle Over 17.5 Legs & Over 8.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Matchplay: 8-10, - 1.40 Units (18 Units Staked, - 7.78% Yield)

World Matchplay Darts Day 4 Picks 2026 (Tuesday 21st July)

So many may have pencilled in another Luke vs Luke Final at the World Matchplay, but Cameron Menzies produced an exceptional performance to dump out Humphries and really open up the bottom half of the draw.

All eight players remaining in that half will now feel a big opportunity is in front of them, but it does look the weaker half after the demise of the World Number 2, even if the likes of Ross Smith, Menzies, Gian van Veen, Wessel Nijman and Rob Cross would have something to say about that on the form produced.

On Tuesday, the attention is on the top half of the draw and all four Second Round matches look like they could be of high quality.

There is every chance the fans are going to be getting to see some world class darts with former World Champions, Premier League players and Major Winners all ready to take their spot in the Quarter Final later in the week.

Jonny Clayton-Gary Anderson both over 4.5 180s & 2+ 100+ checkouts: Two veterans of the Tour who continue to perform at a high level are meeting in what could turn out to be a very good Second Round match.

Gary Anderson was definitely the more impressive winner in the First Round and once again aimed barbs at his critics after the win over Ryan Joyce, but he has not been playing as much as the likes of Jonny Clayton.

That may not be a factor that decides the outcome of the match, but Clayton has been keeping a high level going for much longer and in a potentially tight contest, that could make the difference.

Jonny Clayton needed some clutch finishing to hold off Damon Heta in the First Round, but that is more evidence that the darts he has been playing week after week will strengthen the resolve when things get difficult. We did not see Gary Anderson tested in the First Round, although that is much more to do with the level he produced on the day, but it does leave questions as to how his game will hold up under the pressure that the Welshman can bring.

Both players are not only very good treble 20 hitters, but they have shown in the First Round that the combination finishing remains a strength. Jonny Clayton had four ton plus finishes in the First Round, while Gary Anderson had two of his own, and these two players are more than capable of getting together for at least seventeen or eighteen Legs before a winner is decided.

That should mean there is enough time for five maximums each and at least two more 100 plus finishes in this Second Round contest.

Michael van Gerwen to win & over 4.5 180s v Dirk van Duijvenbode: One Dutchman will be playing in the World Matchplay Quarter Final at the conclusion of this Second Round match and it could be a really good battle between Michael van Gerwen and Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Both came through tough tests in the First Round, although both may feel they allowed the opponent back into matches when they were in control.

Michael van Gerwen took control sooner than Dirk van Duijvenbode, who needed extra Legs to finally get past Chris Dobey, and the higher Ranked of these compatriots got the better of van Duijvenbode when they met at a Players Championship Final in May.

That was a high quality affair and this could be another with both showing flashes of what they are capable of in recent weeks.

The edge here has to be with Michael van Gerwen who may be able to sustain a higher level for longer than Dirk van Duijvenbode- the latter came right off the boil when it looked like he was about to win his First Round match. Anything like that again will be punished by MvG, although van Gerwen will be aware that his scoring will need to remain strong against an opponent who can go through incredible hot patches on the oche.

We should get to something like an 11-7 score and Michael van Gerwen will likely have needed plenty of maximums to earn a win if the match develops as it should.

Luke Littler-Nathan Aspinall over 12.5 180s & 2+ 100+ checkouts: There was a real feeling that Nathan Aspinall's friendship with Luke Littler had created a pecking order when it comes to the head to head on the oche.

Luke Littler has dominated the numbers, but it should be noted that Nathan Aspinall beat him in a couple of Masters events last season.

They have not faced one another since a meeting at the Players Championship Finals at the back end of 2025, which was won by Littler in this format.

Neither has been playing a lot of darts of late, but both looked in really good form in the First Round and it could be a Second Round match that features plenty of maximum hitting. You have to believe that combination finishing is going to be key at a couple of points during the contest, but Aspinall will need to find his scoring early to avoid getting too far behind Luke Littler.

Even a slow start rarely affects Luke Littler and he has become the clear favourite to win the tournament after the upset suffered by Luke Humphries in the opening Round. It is not a pressure that should hinder Littler's performance and both players can rack up the maximums and add a couple of 100+ checkouts to the match.

Stephen Bunting to win & over 3.5 180s v Josh Rock: Despite playing in the Premier League this season, Josh Rock and Stephen Bunting did not have too many meetings in that tournament as they both struggled for consistency.

That was the case in the opening wins here in Blackpool, although Josh Rock made much easier work of Luke Woodhouse than Stephen Bunting did of Niels Zonneveld.

More credit has to be given to Bunting for coming through some high pressure spots and thaet should leave him ready to get the better of Josh Rock at a major tournament. The Bullet will be looking for revenge for the loss at the UK Open and he will have noted that Josh Rock is still not finding his consistent best form.

The Northern Irishman is dangerous- he can be very strong around the treble 20 bed and Josh Rock was finishing well in the First Round. However, he was playing without being put under the kind of pressure expected and someone like Stephen Bunting should offer a much sterner test.

Stephen Bunting will need to improve his finishing, but he may have just enough to edge to a win and contribute at least four maximums to the cause in this best of twenty-one format.

MY PICKS: Jonny Clayton-Gary Anderson Both Over 4.5 180s & 2+ 100+ Checkouts @ 2.30 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Michael van Gerwen to Win & Over 4.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler-Nathan Aspinall Over 12.5 180s & 2+ 100+ Checkouts @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Stephen Bunting to Win & Over 3.5 180s @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Matchplay: 6-8, - 1.80 Units (14 Units Staked, - 12.86% Yield)

World Matchplay Darts Day 3 Picks 2026 (Monday 20th July)

The First Round at the World Matchplay will be completed on Monday night and there are once again some quality looking matches to be played in the session.

Four more names will fill out the Second Round and those matches will begin tomorrow as the format moves into a best of twenty-one setting.

The schedule already looks really good for Tuesday, but the focus is the remaining First Round matches to be played before a thread for Day 4 in Blackpool is put together.

Ross Smith-Kevin Doets over 16.5 legs & over 10.5 180s: When these two players met on the floor back in May, Kevin Doets was much stronger than Ross Smith on the day and ran out a comfortable winner.

Since then, Ross Smith has shown his level on the European Tour and in other Players Championship events and he will be feeling confident ahead of this big First Round match.

The layers are finding it tough to separate them, which is a testament to how well Kevin Doets continues to play in 2026 as he looks to push up the World Rankings. Beating Ross Smith and opening up this section of the draw could allow Doets to build some real momentum in this tournament.

Both players should be able to have their moments and it would be a disappointment if this match does not need at least seventeen Legs. The power scoring of both is a big part of their darts, which will give one of the players an opportunity to run through Legs quickly if the other is not quite at the races, but you have to believe that Kevin Doets and Ross Smith are playing well enough to push the other in what could be one of the best matches of the opening Round.

Gerwyn Price to win & over 4.5 180s v Martin Schindler: Since the conclusion of the Premier League, Gerwyn Price has not really been playing as many tournaments as you may expect, while early losses in some of those he has attended means having little competitive action.

The Welshman lost his first match at the Players Championship 23 event earlier this month and did not take part the next day so you do have to wonder what kind of form he will be bringing into Blackpool.

Gerwyn Price has played well at the World Matchplay and that may give him some belief heading onto the stage, especially the fact he has beaten Martin Schindler in this format before.

And if you think Price has been out of form, Martin Schindler has really been struggling having suffered five defeats in a row- even last week in front of the home crowd, The Wall could not find his consistency on the oche and that could be a real problem against someone like Gerwyn Price.

There should be enough time for The Ice Man to find a good level in a winning effort and he can put together five maximums on his way into the Second Round.

Luke Humphries-Cameron Menzies over 15.5 legs and both over 2.5 180s: It is no surprise that Luke Humphries is a big favourite in this First Round match having reached the Nordic Darts Masters Final and then winning the US Darts Masters after coming up very narrowly short of retaining his Premier League title.

There has not been a lot of darts played in recent weeks, but Humphries has been in very good form all season and he will certainly be thinking about himself as a real contender to win the World Matchplay.

Cameron Menzies struggled for form earlier in the season having done some damage to his hand when punching the podium at the World Championship.

Recent weeks have been much better for Menzies who competed at the World Cup of Darts alongside Gary Anderson when Scotland were beaten pretty handily by an England team pairing up the two Lukes.

Since then, Cameron Menzies has won a Players Championship title and he pushed Luke Humphries all the way at the European Championships at the back end of 2025. That will give the World Number 27 some confidence and both players should be able to win at least six Legs, while also throwing at least three maximums each.

Danny Noppert-Rob Cross over 15.5 legs & Cross over 3.5 180s: There is no doubt that Danny Noppert has seen his level slip in recent weeks, but that does not mean it gives anyone the right to send the kind of vitriol that the Dutchman has been subject to on social media.

He called things out by posting the message he had been receiving, but Noppert will be hoping he can focus on his darts and build on what was a decent showing at Players Championship 24.

Last week Danny Noppert was beaten early in Leverkusen, but he should be capable of pushing Rob Cross in what is a fine First Round match to conclude Day 3 in Blackpool.

Rob Cross was in a fight to even earn a spot in the draw, but the former World Champion has found some serious form which saw him win a Players Championship title and reach the Final at a European Tour event last month. He was another that was beaten early in Leverkusen, but Cross is down as the favourite and that is not a surprise on his performances over the last several weeks.

The expectation is that both will be able to get to six Legs, but Rob Cross has been powering in the maximums and that could give him the edge in the First Round match.

Nothing will be easy, but the former World Champion can pick up four maximums in what should be a close, competitive match.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith-Kevin Doets Over 16.5 Legs & Over 10.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gerwyn Price to Win & Over 4.5 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries-Cameron Menzies Over 15.5 Legs & Both Over 2.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Danny Noppert-Rob Cross Over 15.5 Legs & Cross Over 3.5 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Matchplay: 5-5, + 0.20 Units (10 Units Staked, + 2% Yield)

World Matchplay Darts Day 2 Picks 2026 (Sunday 19th July)

The opening day at the World Matchplay may only have featured a single session and four First Round matches, but the Leg Format of this tournament continues to throw up some drama.

We have already had the first last Leg decider of the week, while two players averaged in triple digits in winning matches- Luke Littler faces Nathan Aspinall in what looks to be a standout Second Round match.

Sunday is a packed day with two sessions spread over several hours, although some of the attention will shift from the late matches that clash with the 2026 World Cup Final. Unlike the contingency plan that involved moving the sessions around to avoid any darts being played if England had reached the Final, the Spain vs Argentina game will be played at the same time as the evening matches.

There will be plenty of fans tuning into the World Matchplay as well, but it does sound like a conscious decision to have the likes of Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen playing in the afternoon session rather than the evening.

Both of those former World Champions are on course to meet in the Quarter Final if they can win a couple of matches over the coming days, but they will be challenged as the quality of the field gets stronger and stronger each season.

Gary Anderson to win & over 4.5 180s v Ryan Joyce: There is always a huge amount of respect that has to be given to Ryan Joyce whenever he gets up on stage and he has given Stephen Bunting a scare here in Blackpool in each of the last two years.

Ryan Joyce was playing well in Leverkusen last week on the European Tour as well, but Gary Anderson should have the scoring power to get over the line in this one.

We have not seen much of The Flying Scotsman in recent weeks and he made little impact at the Players Championship events played earlier this month.

However, the best of twenty-one format gives Gary Anderson time to work his way into this First Round match and use his stronger scoring to put himself in a position to move through to the next Round.

Michael van Gerwen to win & most 180s v Andrew Gilding: This has the makings of becoming a high quality First Round match in the afternoon session on Day 2 of the tournament.

Michael van Gerwen has the bigger name and has achieved more in the sport, but Andrew Gilding has rarely allowed that to bother him.

Just last month he edged past the Dutchman in a very good match on the European Tour, while he has beaten van Gerwen in a big television spot at the UK Open.

Two years ago Michael van Gerwen did get the better of Andrew Gilding right here at the World Matchplay, and that was a match in which the heavier scoring came from the former. This will be needed again and van Gerwen will likely need to produce the maximums fairly regularly if he is going to keep Goldfinger at bay.

Jonny Clayton to win & over 3.5 180s v Damon Heta: Last week was another sign that Damon Heta is picking up his level again, but he will be disappointed that he was not able to get past Jermaine Wattimena in the Semi Final in Leverkusen.

Overall the performances will have given Heta a boost in confidence before heading to the World Matchplay.

First up is a tough draw against Jonny Clayton who reached the Semi Final here last year and should really have beaten James Wade, and the Welshman has maintained a strong level over the last twelve months. He is a strong scorer, but also a confident finisher and Jonny Clayton will not panic if things begin slowly.

There has not been a lot of meetings between the players in the last couple of years, but both should be familiar enough with the other to make sure they are super focused in their bid to reach the Second Round.

And with that said, Jonny Clayton should have enough at the back end of Legs to secure passage past Damon Heta on Sunday afternoon.

Jermaine Wattimena v James Wade: These two players may approach their darts in a different way, but both have been very successful and another close match is expected.

That is not a big surprise at the World Matchplay with so many quality players in the field, but matches between these players have tended to be very close.

They met at a similar distance at the Players Championship Finals at the back end of last year and that was won by Jermaine Wattimena, who had given himself enough chances with this scoring.

He is going to need to do the same here, and Wattimena will have headed to Blackpool with confidence after reaching the Final in Leverkusen last week. Losing that will have hurt, but the player is in decent form and he may just edge James Wade in what should be a close match right to the end.

Either way, Jermaine Wattimena looks a lively underdog and he can come through a tough match.

Gian van Veen to win & most 180s v Krzysztof Ratajski: These two met last week in Leverkusen and it was Krzysztof Ratjaski who came through a low quality contest.

Despite not being at his best, Ratajski used the momentum to carry himself through to winning the latest European Tour event and that will have given him a lot of confidence to take into this event.

Krzysztof Ratajski is a steady player and will not go away easily, but Gian van Veen will know he has the levels to go through to take this First Round match away from the Polish player.

Gian van Veen was in better form when beating Niko Springer in Leverkusen and you have to expect the longer format in the World Matchplay to give him the time to fight back in this First Round match. The Dutchman will have to make a stronger start to just make things a little more comfortable and he can do that at an event where he reached the Quarter Final twelve months ago.

Wessel Nijman - 2.5 legs, over 3.5 180s & 1+ 100 checkout v Dave Chisnall: A disappointing early exit in Leverkusen will not have dented the Wessel Nijman confidence, at least not significantly, and this is a player that could make big waves here in Blackpool over the next week.

A big season has been put on the board, but the next five months is all about doing it in front of the bigger television audiences that will be the feature of the World Ranking events to be played.

Wessel Nijman has not always played his best in front of the fans and the cameras, but he has been performing well on the European Tour and he looks to have all of the tools ready to complete the three parts of this selection.

Dave Chisnall was not involved in the last European Tour, but continues to have his difficulties in putting consistent results on the board.

He will be inspired to play someone like Wessel Nijman and Chizzy can still be very dangerous at his best, but the Dutchman is playing at a different level to so many right now and he can show off his improvement to a wider audience in this opening match in this tournament.

MY PICKS: Gary Anderson to Win & Over 4.5 180s @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Michael van Gerwen to Win & Most 180s @ 2.30 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Jonny Clayton to Win & Over 3.5 180s @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Jermaine Wattimena @ 2.40 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen to Win & Most 180s @ 2.75 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Wessel Nijman - 2.5 Legs, Over 3.5 180s & 1+ 100 Checkout @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Matchplay: 2-2, + 0.35 Units (4 Units Staked, + 8.75% Yield)

World Matchplay Darts Day 1 Picks 2026 (Saturday 18th July)

A contingency plan had been in place in case England were to reach the World Cup Final, but the PDC have not needed for that to go-ahead following results in the Semi Final of that tournament.

That means the World Matchplay is going to take place as the Sessions were planned and that means beginning on Day 1 with an Evening Session featuring four First Round matches.

Some believe that this is the biggest Ranking tournament after the World Championships and the field is loaded with talent, although the stand out names remain the two Lukes and those who have competed in the Premier League.

You have to imagine the likes of Luke Woodhouse and Wessel Nijman will have something to say about that after the way they have performed on the floor and European Tour events all season, but Luke Littler and Luke Humphries will be the most difficult to stop in their bid to meet in yet another big Final next weekend.

The last couple of days at the last European Tour event were unbelievably tough to take and a bounce back effort is needed in Blackpool.

You can't get it all back at once, but continuing to work through the long Tour is the key and that begins on Day 1 at the World Matchplay with a long run still coming up through to the end of the World Championships in early January.

Josh Rock most 180s v Luke Woodhouse: This looks the perfect way to open the World Matchplay between two very talented younger players with one looking to move into the kind of role the other has been enjoying in 2026.

Josh Rock earned his spot in the Premier League, but you have to believe that Luke Woodhouse has ambitions to join that elite tournament sooner than later.

Both are closely matched and the layers are finding it pretty hard to separate the two in this First Round match, which is not a surprise. Luke Woodhouse has arguably been the more consistent performer, but Josh Rock is still playing at a strong level and he has the power scoring that can make the difference.

No one should doubt the abilities of Luke Woodhouse, but Josh Rock should have the edge in the maximum department- that may not be enough to win the match if the doubling continues to be inconsistent, but the Northern Irishman should edge the most maximums market in this good looking match.

Stephen Bunting to win & over 15.5 legs v Niels Zonneveld: If this match was played a couple of months ago, Niels Zonneveld would likely have had plenty more support in the market in his bid to earn this upset.

While the Dutchman is still playing decent enough, there is no doubt that the level has dipped and that has been reflected in some of the recent win-losses on the Tour.

Last week Niels Zonneveld had his chances against Ross Smith, but missed his doubles and that meant leaving Leverkusen with a big defeat. He should be far more competitive in this First Round match having already given Stephen Bunting challenges in a couple of European Tour events, but it also cannot be ignored that Zonneveld has come up short both times.

Stephen Bunting is not exactly putting strings of wins together and was also beaten early in Leverkusen last week, but he can battle and scrap in this one and another relatively tight victory looks the most likely outcome of this First Round contest.

Luke Littler-Niko Springer over 14.5 legs and over 2.5 180s each: He has not played in any Players Championship events this season and Luke Littler also skipped out on the European Tour last weekend meaning he has not played since losing the US Darts Masters Final against Luke Humphries.

Does that affect his performance? Most likely not, but Littler will be heading to Blackpool as the defending Champion knowing that he is always likely to be given a tough opening draw.

That did not stop him crushing Ryan Searle in the First Round twelve months ago, but Littler was then pushed all the way by the likes of Jermaine Wattimena and Andrew Gilding on his way to the title.

Opening up against Niko Springer should give Littler the chance to build up his rhythm with the opponent one that will push the better players- Springer has tended to play up and down to the level of the opponent and that has produced the inconsistent results.

Last week he gave Gian van Veen all he could handle, but missed doubles cost Springer and he cannot afford to do that again.

In a best of twenty-one Leg format, Niko Springer should have the time to contribute to the maximums market as long as he is not overwhelmed by the occasion. The expectation is that he will thrive in the situation and that should mean Springer can join Luke Littler in earning at least three maximums in a match that should need at least fifteen Legs to find a winner.

Nathan Aspinall to win & over 4.5 180s v Joe Cullen: There is an England football match scheduled to be played around the same time as this First Round match, but neither Nathan Aspinall nor Joe Cullen should be distracted by a Third Place Playoff at the World Cup.

If it had been the Final, that would have been a very different situation, but both players should be focused in rounding out Day 1 with what looks to be a very good match on paper.

Joe Cullen is still very capable on his day and everyone on the Tour will respect that.

However, Nathan Aspinall has continued to put together some very strong darts and only his doubling cost him in the Quarter Final in Leverkusen last week. That could still be an issue for Aspinall, but in this longer format, there is more opportunity for a scrapper like The Asp to dig himself out of a hole.

Nathan Aspinall is a former winner of the Matchplay and may take something from the fact that he beat Joe Cullen along the way- that was a Semi Final match in 2023, but Aspinall should be able to produce five maximums on his way to a winning effort in the First Round in 2026.

MY PICKS: Josh Rock Most 180s @ 1.80 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Stephen Bunting to Win & Over 15.5 Total Legs @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Littler-Niko Springer Over 14.5 Total Legs and Over 2.5 180s Each @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall to Win & Over 4.5 180s @ 2.15 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 99-133, - 22.49 Units (229 Units Staked, - 9.82% Yield)

European Tour 10- European Darts Open Day 3 Picks 2026 (Sunday 12th July)

We move into Finals day at the European Darts Open and there are a number of players that are still competing who will be looking to put down a marker ahead of the World Matchplay that begins next weekend.

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are both going to be waiting in Blackpool, but fans will be hoping that others can step up in the next Ranking event to bring some more excitement to the sport.

Wessel Nijman is one that stands out, but there are some dangerous players scattered throughout the World Matchplay draw.

Before that, the European Darts Open has to be completed with a title on the line at the end of Sunday.

The Third Round is played in the Day Session before the Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Final are completed in the Evening Session and there are a number of players involved who will believe they can go all the way.

Any selections from the Evening Session will be added to this thread once the Quarter Final lineup has been confirmed.

Wessel Nijman to win & both players over 1.5 180s v Dirk van Duijvenbode: This should be another high quality battle between these two compatriots after Wessel Nijman edged past Dirk van Duijvenbode on the European Tour at the end of May.

That match ended 6-5 in favour of the in-form Wessel Nijman and another close contest is expcted.

It is largely down to the heavy scoring that Dirk van Duijvenbode can produce and he had four maximums in that loss, a number Nijman had to match.

You would expect at least two maximums each in this one and once against Wessel Nijman to find a way to edge into the Evening Session at another European Tour event.

Michael van Gerwen to win & most 180s v Damon Heta: There have been signs that the latter is getting back into the kind of form he was producing in the last couple of years after a pretty underwhelming first six months in 2026.

Damon Heta is a confidence player and can match the best when at his best, but Michael van Gerwen is certainly looking a bit more like his old self.

He came through a tough Second Round match with some big checkouts and strong scoring and that is a combination that could be difficult to deal with in Leverkusen.

The Australian can be a big maximum hitter, but van Gerwen can edge past him in that statistical column and also win this Third Round match.

Kevin Doets to win & over 2.5 180s v Sebastian Bialecki: It will have disappointed Sebastian Bialecki to have missed out on the World Matchplay, but his form over the last twelve months is improving all of the time.

You would think he would be pushing for a top 32 spot next time around, while this weekend he can be free of thought and not concern himself about the tournament beginning in Blackpool next weekend.

Kevin Doets will be there and he has just maintained a strong run of form that has him pushing towards being Seeded for these European Tour events going forward.

Beating an out of sorts Martin Schindler will still have given Doets another push forward in momentum and he was scoring well enough to complete this double and progress to the Quarter Final later in the day.

Nathan Aspinall-Ross Smith both over 2.5 180s: My only real concern about this Third Round match is that both Nathan Aspinall and Ross Smith will likely have been up late watching the England World Cup Quarter Final that concluded around 2am local time.

With the assumption that neither would have been rushing to go to sleep after the manner in which England progressed, there could be some tired minds on the stage.

It is a concern about the level of performance that may be produced, but the two are scheduled to go out pretty late and that will certainly help.

At their best, both Aspinall and Smith are big maximum hitters and they will know that they will need to score well to get the better of the other. That could help with the focus, as long as there is no significant hangover to deal with, and both are capable of peppering the treble 20 bed in a match that should go at least nine Legs.

Gian van Veen - 1.5 legs v Krzysztof Ratajski: In the last Third Round match in the Day Session, Gian van Veen and Krzysztof Ratajski will be looking to lay down a marker to the other.

A place in the Quarter Final is motivation enough, but these two players also meet in the First Round of the World Matchplay next week.

Gian van Veen is beginning to look stronger after a mid-season slump and he has the scoring and the finishing to make things difficult for any opponent. He should have a little too much for The Polish Eagle in this Third Round contest and the likelihood is that the Dutchman can progress without the need for a final Leg decider as he becomes the last player into the Quarter Final.

MY PICKS: Wessel Nijman to Win & Both Players Over 1.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Michael van Gerwen to Win & Most 180s @ 2.60 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kevin Doets to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall-Ross Smith Both Over 2.5 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen - 1.5 Legs @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

QF PICKS: Luke Woodhouse to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

James Wade to Win & Over 8.5 Total Legs @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Nathan Aspinall to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 2.25 Bet365 (1 Unit)

European Darts Open: 5-5, - 0.66 Units (10 Units Staked, - 6.60% Yield)

European Tour 10- European Darts Open Day 2 Picks 2026 (Saturday 11th July)

It is another very busy day on the European Tour circuit with the Second Round of this latest tournament to be played across two Sessions as the big names who are in Leverkusen this weekend enter the draw.

After a positive enough opening day, the selections continue from the Afternoon and Evening Sessions.

Luke Woodhouse - 2.5 legs v Dragutin Horvat: The Englishman crushed this opponent in a European Tour event back in March and only lost two Legs to him in another event last year.

Luke Woodhouse continues to play with real confidence and Dragutin Horvat will have to lift his level a couple of steps if he is going to make this one more competitive.

There are times when Woodhouse perhaps plays down to the opponent in front of him, but he was upset early in the last European Tour event played and should be focused enough to cover this handicap mark.

Kim Huybrechts v Jermaine Wattimena: Missing out on the World Matchplay at Blackpool will be a blow for Kim Huybrechts, but he is still playing some very good darts right now.

He has won both meetings with Jermaine Wattimena this season, albeit on the floor, and Kim Huybrechts has one match under his belt on this stage, which will give him some confidence to take into this good looking Second Round match.

There is no doubt that Jermaine Wattimena is very dangerous, but Kim Huybrechts may be able to edge past him with the scoring to match the Dutchman and the recent form that may just see him come through as the slight underdog.

Wessel Nijman - 2.5 legs v Bradley Brooks: You have to give Bradley Brooks some credit for turning around his form over the last month after a really trying period between February and April when he could not buy a win.

He has looked better and has won a match on this stage, but Brooks will be aware that he is going in against one of the top performers on the PDC circuit in 2026.

Wessel Nijman has played well enough to no longer have to begin European Tour events on Friday and he is a genuine contender to win this one. He will also be looking for. a strong weekend to take into the World Matchplay next weekend when Nijman has a chance to showcase his improvement to a wider audience and the last couple of meetings between the players has seen the Dutchman overpower Bradley Brooks 12-3 in Legs.

You have to expect Brooks to offer a bit more resistance, but that may not be enough for this handicap mark.

Stephen Bunting to win & most 180s v Ryan Joyce: This is quite a simple Second Round match and how it is going to be decided- if Stephen Bunting has his finishing at better than 45% on the checkouts, he should have too much for Ryan Joyce.

Relentless has shown he is a steady scorer, but he is a clinical finisher and will take advantage of any mistakes made by an opponent.

However, you have to believe Stephen Bunting has the far superior scoring power and that should mean having many more darts at winning Legs and the match.

Stephen Bunting played in both floor events earlier this week before a quick stop in London for an exhibition and then travelling to Leverkusen. That is something of a concern in terms of mental fatigue that could have built up, but Bunting should still have enough to complete the match double in this opening match of the Evening Session.

Jonny Clayton to win, Clayton over 1.5 180s & Karel Sedlacek over 0.5 180s: This three combination approach looks like a good one for this Second Round match.

Jonny Clayton should be able to continue his fantastic 2026 by edging past Karel Sedlacek, but both players are capable of getting into the maximum groove and thaey should at least hit one each.

However, it is Clayton who has really shown off his power scoring around the treble 20 bed which makes it easier to ask him to hit at least two in this one and putting the bet builder together offers up a a decent price from this Second Round match.

Kevin Doets to win & both over 1.5 180s v Martin Schindler: There has not been a lot wrong with the level of performances produced by Martin Schindler, but recent losses have piled up and that has to have dented the confidence.

On current trajectories of these two players, it will be Schindler who will soon be starting European Tour events in the First Round while Kevin Doets will be pushing into the Seeded positions.

Martin Schindler has had the edge in the recent head to head, but the last meeting was in April 2025 and Kevin Doets is much improved now.

Both remain very solid maximum hitters and this could be one of the matches of the night, although the edge has to be with Kevin Doets to snap the losing run against this opponent.

Ross Smith-Niels Zonneveld over 2.5 180s each: The last match of the Evening Session is scheduled for around half an hour before England's Quarter Final at the 2026 World Cup and so Ross Smith will be hoping the earlier matches have not dragged on too long.

His focus will be on appearing on Finals Day in Leverkusen, but he will also want to get off the stage without missing too much of the England game.

Power scoring can quicken up Legs and both Smith and Niels Zonneveld are very capable of putting together some monster scoring.

These two players met in a European Tour event in early May and the maximums were powered in by both in a match that lasted nine Legs. You have to imagine that will be the case in this one too and that should give Ross Smith and Niels Zonneveld enough time to hit three maximums each in a fitting end to the Evening Session schedule.

MY PICKS: Luke Woodhouse - 2.5 Legs @ 1.66 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Kim Huybrechts @ 2.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Wessel Nijman - 2.5 Legs @ 1.83 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Stephen Bunting to Win & Most 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Jonny Clayton to Win, Jonny Clayton Over 1.5 180s & Karel Sedlacek Over 0.5 180s @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kevin Doets to Win & Both Players Over 1.5 180s @ 2.20 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ross Smith-Niels Zonneveld Over 2.5 180s Each @ 2.15 Bet365 (1 Unit)

European Darts Open: 2-1, + 1.05 Unis (3 Units Staked, + 35% Yield)

European Tour 10- European Darts Open Day 1 Picks 2026 (Friday 10th July)

A couple of Players Championship events were held earlier this week, but in the main, the PDC Tour has been on a little hiatus moving into the second half of the year.

This is when things really begin to ramp up though with more European Tour events and a Tour that has a second half that is filled with Ranking events after the field for the World Matchplay was confirmed.

That begins in mid-July on the same weekend as the World Cup Final is scheduled, but that also means the Matchplay will be gaining plenty of attention once the football has concluded and the tournament heats up.

Before that, the European Tour 10 event is to be played across this weekend in the format that has become very familiar to all.

Seeds will be joining the tournament on Saturday, but the First Round will be played across two Sessions on Day 1 on Friday before the event is concluded across a couple of Sessions on Sunday.

Andrew Gilding - 1.5 legs v Rob Owen: Beating Rob Owen is never going to be easy, but Andrew Gilding has something he likes about the match up and he can get through this First Round tie at the latest European Tour event.

Both players have been in decent form on the floor, but the Gilding experience is an important factor that gives him the edge.

Goldfinger will have noted the early losses suffered by Rob Owen at the Players Championship events played earlier this week and Andrew Gilding can back up his solid performance at European Tour 9 by making sure he gets into the weekend here.

The World Matchplay draw will be something that Andrew Gilding will be interested in seeing once it is released, but the focus is to have some momentum ahead of the trip to Blackpool and he can get the better of his Welsh opponent yet again.

Kim Huybrechts to win & most 180s v Samuel Price: These two players met on the floor earlier this year, but the key here is whether Kim Huybrechts can overcome the disappointment of missing the World Matchplay.

That does not take away from how well he has played in 2026, but it is important to keep building forward.

Kim Huybrechts is the favourite against Samuel Price who has lost his last eight Players Championship matches and the heavier scoring should come from the Belgian.

This is another step in the development for Price and his career, but Kim Huybrechts should overpower him on his way through to the Second Round.

Joe Cullen to win & over 1.5 180s v Charlie Manby: These two met in a high quality match on the Tour earlier this season and it was Joe Cullen who edged to the victory 6-4 in a Quarter Final at Players Championship 08.

Charlie Manby looked in decent shape on the floor in Players Championship 23, but Joe Cullen wasn't playing badly and just needs to get his doubling back up to par.

He has admitted that the scoring is not really an issue, but Cullen cannot afford to give away too many chances if he is going to have a decent run in this event.

You would expect Joe Cullen to put at least two maximums on the board, but this is going to come down to whether he can withstand the push that Charlie Manby will have and whether the former can hit his big doubles. That is hard to guess, but Joe Cullen should be motivated in a match like this and that is usually when we see his best efforts.

MY PICKS: Andrew Gilding - 1.5 Legs @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Kim Huybrechts to Win & Most 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Joe Cullen to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Darts 2026: 94-120, - 13.83 Units (211 Units Staked, - 6.55% Yield)

US Darts Masters Day 2 Picks 2026 (Friday 26th June)

Only one of the eight main PDC representatives was upset in the opening Round of the US Darts Masters and it is perhaps fitting that Jim Long made it through as a Tour Card holder.

It does mean another solid World Series Quarter Final line up and winning the title will be the objective on Friday before the players all earn a break.

Matches are played through the evening with the Quarter Final, Semi Final and Final played in one Session at Madison Square Garden where plenty of football fans have been in attendance and likely more to come with England set to play in New Jersey on Saturday.

Luke Littler to win & over 2.5 180s v Jim Long: There was a slight moment where it felt like Luke Littler's missed doubles would haunt him against David Cameron, but the latter could not live with the scoring power and the World Number 1 did overwhelm him in the last three Legs to win 6-4.

Luke Littler will know that Jim Long is experienced enough to take advantage of the mistakes made and he is also playing well enough to not allow the top player in the world to be able to make up for as many missed darts again.

There was nothing wrong with Littler's scoring against Cameron with five maximums and five more 140 plus shots and that is likely to be a difference for him again.

It may not be as long a match as the First Round as Luke Littler looks to conserve some energy for the next Round when the challenges are much stiffer, but Jim Long can hang around for long enough for the World Number 1 to hit both parts of this selection.

Luke Humphries-Stephen Bunting over 8.5 legs & over 5.5 180s: These two players split four Premier League meetings with two wins each and only one of the four matches ended with fewer than nine Legs being needed to separate them.

Both Luke Humphries and Stephen Bunting impressed in wins on this stage on Thursday and it would be a disappointment if either slipped off from the level shown.

The focus should be that much greater with the opponent standing behind them on the oche and another 6-3/6-4 kind of win either way is expected.

That should give the players a chance to cover this maximum line with both Humphries and Bunting capable of taking a big chunk out of the number on their own. Again, looking back at the Premier League meetings, the three matches that lasted at least nine Legs produced 6, 10 and 9 maximums, while the one match that ended in a 6-0 win for Luke Humphries also had 3 maximums attached to it.

Luke Humphries at two maximums in seven Legs on Thursday, while Stephen Bunting had three in eight and this double can pay out.

Jonny Clayton to win & over 1.5 180s v Gian van Veen: Five Premier League meetings ended with three wins to Jonny Clayton and two for Gian van Veen and it is the Welshman who may have the slight edge in this US Masters Quarter Final.

Both players were in good form in the First Round and Gian van Veen has definitely looked like a player getting back to his best.

However, Jonny Clayton has maintained a strong level throughout this season and looked to be very comfortable on the stage on Day 1 of the tournament.

The expectation is that this match will be long and it could come down to a missed double here or there, but the edge is with Jonny Clayton and he may just do enough to secure the victory.

With the scoring power displayed in the First Round win and throughout this season, Jonny Clayton will likely add a couple of maximums in any winning effort.

MY PICKS: Luke Littler to Win & Over 2.5 180s @ 1.61 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries-Stephen Bunting Over 8.5 Legs & Over 5.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Jonny Clayton to Win & Over 1.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

US Masters: 4-1, + 1.96 Units (5 Units Staked, + 39.20% Yield)