World Cup of Darts Betting Tips
Luke Humphries and Michael Smith steered England to World Cup of Darts glory last season and, with teenage phenomenon Luke Littler replacing Bully Boy as Humphries' partner, they have been all the rage to make a successful title defence at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle.
Humphries and Littler are the best two players in the world and, having finished first and second in this season’s BetMGM Premier League, it is easy to see why they are heavy odds-on to take the title and indeed 8/1 to hit the pairs tournament’s first-ever nine-darter.
Being the top of four seeds, England are already assured of a place in the last 16 alongside Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland while the other 36 nations have to do battle in the group stage to reach the second round.
The tournament format is heavily favoured to suit the elite countries and, while opposing England in the top half of the draw looks fraught with danger, there could be each-way value to be had as the likes of Wales and Scotland would avoid them until the final.
England are resounding favourites at 1/2, with Wales seen as the biggest challengers to their supremacy at 11/2. Netherlands, without Michael van Gerwen and instead represented by Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen, are 12/1, the same price as Scottish duo Gary Anderson and Peter Wright.
It is then 20/1 bar, with Northern Irish pairing Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney and Belgium’s Mike De Decker and Dimitri van den Bergh available at that price.
TIP 1 - Scotland to win the World Cup of Darts each way @ 12/1
England are likely to take some stopping in the four-day extravaganza which kicks into action on Thursday but each-way betting provides some value and Scotland, who can’t meet the two Lukes until a potential title decider, may have been overlooked at 12/1.
Scotland lost 8-4 to England in the semi-final last season but they finished runners-up to Wales in 2023 and, in Anderson and Wright, they have a strong pairing featuring two former world champions who have shown an ability to work together that shouldn’t be undervalued.
Scotland may have to beat the winners of two years ago, Wales, who are represented by Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price, but the Ferret has had a stop-start season.
Anderson, meanwhile, has been in blistering floor event form while Wright is beginning to show some positive signs after a lean spell, so they may not warrant being double the price of Wales.
Tip 2 - Belgium to win the World Cup of Darts each way @ 20/1
If there is to be a surprise then it could be sprung by Belgium, who inherit two big-stage performers in 2024 World Grand Prix champion De Decker and last season’s UK Open winner Van den Bergh.
On their day they are capable of mixing it with anyone and, while they have to progress through the group phase, Latvia and the Philippines are unlikely to pose too many problems in the early stages.
A bit of luck will be required with the draw - avoiding England until the final is the ideal scenario - but they were semi-finalists last season and that was with Kim Huybrechts partnering Van den Bergh.
The dangerous De Decker looks a big upgrade and could take them to the next level.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
