STEVEOCN Darts Tips

Alex Spellman has lost his last six matches, and at the Grand Slam of Darts he lost his three group games without really threatening. Gabriel Clemens reached the semi-finals here three years ago, and I fancy the German will win this by a couple of sets. 3-0 or 3-1 is the play against the American.

A semi-finalist three years ago at Ally Pally, and the German should have too much for Alex Spellman. The American has lost his last six matches and has been playing his darts on the MODUS Super Series. I fancy Gabriel Clemens will win this one comfortably.

The Bullet was a semi-finalist twelve months ago at the Ally Pally, and he has had another good year. The fourth seed has won all three head-to-head meetings with Sebastian Bialecki, and I fancy Stephen Bunting cruises through his first-round match with the Pole.

Stephen Bunting has won all three previous head-to-head meetings. The most recent was a 6-3 Players Championship win in August on the floor. The Bullet reached the semi-final twelve months ago, and I fancy he won’t drop a set in his opening round against the Pole Sebastian Bialecki.

The fourth seed reached the semi-finals last year in the PDC World Championship and he has had another great year across the European Tour and World Series. The Bullet has become much more reliable, and he has won all three previous meetings with Sebastian Bialecki. Set play should allow Bunting to get this done in straight sets against the Pole to cover the under total sets, 3-0 to the Englishman.

The History Maker was a quarter-finalist in 2019 at the Ally Pally, and he gave beaten finalist MVG a game here twelve months ago. The only previous meeting with Dudeney was a 6-2 Players Championship win in October on the floor, and I fancy Brendan Dolan will be too good for the 21-year-old this afternoon.

The Northern Irishman won the only head-to-head 6-2 in October at a Players Championship event on the floor. Up on the big stage with a set-play format, I fancy Brendan Dolan will have too much in terms of quality and experience. The History Maker to win this 3-0 or 3-1 is the play.

Jonny Clayton has found some real form since the World Matchplay. He followed a semi-final run in Blackpool with another at the World Grand Prix. The World Championship is set in a format similar to the Grand Prix, and after reaching the last 16 or better for the last four years, I fancy the Welshman will start well and beat Lipscombe in straight sets.

The Welshman has reached the last 16 or quarter-finals in the last four years at the World Championship. I fancy he is a dark horse this year given his section of the draw. Clayton reached the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix, which is a set format, and I am siding with The Ferret, picking off Adam Lipscombe to win this opener in straight sets. Under total sets is the play.

The Ferret reached the semi-finals of both the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix in the second half of the year. I fancy he is in a section of the draw where he will like his chances of a good run in the World Championship. Adam Lipscombe has been handed a tough opener here, and I am siding with Jonny Clayton, who looks good for victory tonight.

Stefan Bellmont has only won four matches over the last seven months, and three of them were on the floor in Players Championship events. Gerwyn Price beat him 5-1 at the Grand Slam of Darts to knock him out in the group stages, and I fancy Barney should have too much for him over five sets. The Dutchman may not have to be at his best here, and I am siding with the former world champion to beat Bellmont with sets to spare.

Just the five wins in eight months for Stefan Bellmont of Switzerland and he was beaten by Ricky Evans and Gerwyn Price at the Grand Slam of Darts to be eliminated in the group stages. Raymond Van Barneveld will see this as a kind first round draw and over the best of five sets I fancy the former champion of the world to win this 3-0 or 3-1 to progress.

Ten straight defeats for the Hungarian, and he was beaten in the first round twelve months ago in the WDF World Championship at the Lakeside. Callan Rydz has reached the quarter-finals twice since 2022 at the Ally Pally, and I fancy the Englishman will be too good for Patrik Kovacs.

Callan Rydz has reached the quarter-finals twice since 2022 in the World Championship at the Ally Pally, and I fancy he is levels above Patrik Kovacs. The Hungarian lost in the first round last year at the Lakeside in the WDF World Championship, and I am siding with Rydz to make short work of him and win this 3-0.

Patrik Kovacs went out in the first round the last two years over on the other side at the WDF World Championship, and he hasn’t won a competitive match in the PDC since 2016 ??' that came in the World Cup of Darts. Callan Rydz has reached the quarterfinals twice at Alexandra Palace in the last few years and can produce the averages. I fancy the Englishman runs through this opener in straight sets. 3-0 is the play to cover the handicap.

Mitsuhiko Tatsunami has been in great form over the last few months in Asia, and he is arguably the best steel-tips player in Japan. The 52-year-old is dubbed the Japanese Stephen Bunting, and with MVG not at his best ??' and perhaps his focus might be elsewhere with his father's health not being great ??' I fancy Tatsunami can take a set off the multiple world champion.

The Asian came through the Steel Darts Japan Tour to book his place at Ally Pally this year, and he has got a glamour tie against MVG. The Dutchman hasn’t been at his best for the bulk of the year, and with Mitsuhiko Tatsunami having nothing to lose, I fancy he can have a spell in this match where he takes a set. Over 3.5 total sets is the play.