European Championship final: Last day of dramatic darting duels

Holly Thackeray | October 28, 2015

European Championship

As an enthralling European Championship draws to a close on Sunday, Coral experts preview the last day of darts in Belgium, contemplating the quarter-final draw, as well as looking ahead to possible semis and final line-ups.

It’s been another PDC oche extravaganza, but which of the big names left will take the coveted continental title?

Quarter-finals

John Henderson v Peter Wright

Snakebite is odds-on at 1/4 to star in this special all-Scot oche event, having stubbornly clung on to come from behind and sink home hero Kim Huybrechts in the second round. Though it was his Halloween-inspired hair-do that caught the eye, as well as some occasional erratic finishing.

Wily Wright will have to up his game to take out Henderson, who blitzed past his own previous opponent, Rowby-John Rodriguez, and is now 3/1 to get the better of his quirky compatriot when it counts.

With one of in-form Michael van Gerwen or Dave Chisnall to potentially meet in the semis, Snakebite is 7/1 for silverware success, but it could be a tough path to triumph.

Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor

It was just another day at the office for Taylor, as the Englishman clicked into gear and sped past a valiant Michael Smith 10-5 to make it to the quarters stage. However, The Power faces a much more formidable peer up next in 2015 World Cup of Darts-winning partner Lewis.

Now, the successful Stoke-born darting duo are once again pitted against each other and, though Lewis won the last tussle between the two, The Power (2/5 for victory) holds a heavy head-to-head advantage.

Jackpot (2/1) has also made tough work of the previous two rounds, so Taylor is a tastier tip at 5/2 to clinch yet another trophy this term, hot on the heels of a trio of World Series Event successes. As the man himself said: “it’s the best I’ve ever played.”

Dave Chisnall v Michael van Gerwen

Can defending champion Van Gerwen come up with the goods again? Mighty Mike is 7/4 favourite to retain his crown, but must first come through a quarters clash against Chisnall (8/1 to steal the trophy for himself).

Two of the sports most exciting stars should make for a match to remember, and Van Gerwen is 1/3 for victory despite losing his last two to Chizzy (much better value at 9/4).

Pummeling Spaniard Cristo Reyes with some thumping finishes to hit the highest average of the competition was certainly a sign of intent from the determined Dutchman, but Mighty Mike has shown on several occasions that he can fluff simple throws after storming ahead.

Such errors could be costly against ambitious Chisnall, who beat Stephen Bunting in a St Mary’s derby scuffle with an excellent average of 103.86 himself. This duel should certainly prove profitable in the maximums market, with both players powerful specialists and 11/2 to draw for most 180s.

Defeated dartsman Bunting took to Twitter and had this to say of Chisnall’s chances:

@ChizzyChisnall what a great game. Wishing you all the best mate for the rest of the comp. play like that you can do it. Keep it up. #chizzy

— Stephen Bunting (@sbunting180) October 31, 2015

Gary Anderson v Jelle Klaasen

King of cool Klaasen has really hit his stride, having now made two quarter-finals in as many of his last televised tournaments. So, the re-emergent Dutchman is 21/10 to prove too potent for recently inconsistent Anderson, after pushing aside James Wade rather easily.

As world champion, the Flying Scotsman is 4/11 favourite to win what would be his fifth successive clash against the Cobra, but Simon Whitlock almost proved a stumbling block in the second round, requiring Anderson to up the ante. With the last two matches between the pair only separated by a one leg difference, back this at 11/1 to go all the way, but this time to finish 10-9 in deadly dark horse Klaasen’s favour.

Related

Read further exciting oche-related articles in our darts archive

Coral’s top tip: Back Klaasen @ 11/1 to beat Anderson 10-9 in the quarters