2025 European Darts Trophy Day 1 (Evening Session) Betting Tips

• Niko Springer To Win: 17/20 at Ladbrokes

Daryl Gurney looked like he was getting back to his best 18 months ago but he's tailed off slightly since. He's not playing badly but he's not producing the performances as consistently as he was. 'Superchin' beat Danny Noppert 6-2 at ET1 before losing a good game against Stephen Bunting 6-2 with a 98.39 average. He then went to Leicester for PC05 and 06 and lost the first round on both days averaging just 92.65 and 88.12 which highlights his inconsistency.

Niko Springer is being tipped as the future of German Darts and that doesn't surprise me at all. His performances at times have been breathtaking and his scoring power is an integral part of his game. He's still young and inexperienced so it will take time for him to settle in the PDC but the signs are there, especially at the UK Open when he beat Cor Dekker in the first round 6-2 with a 115.92, the second highest average in the event's history.

Niko Springer looks more consistent at the moment and playing in the evening session in front of his home crowd will create a very hostile atmosphere which will certainly benefit the German. Gurney has shown signs lately but I think Springer will have too much on this occasion and book his place in the second round.

• Joe Cullen Most 180s: 1/1 at Midnite

Joe Cullen had a dire 2024 and failed to qualify for his first European Tour event this season since the end of 2016 at the Belgian Open but he's responded brilliantly since. He made it to the final of PC01 in Wigan and followed that up with his first title in 3 years at PC05 in Leicester. 'The Rockstar' looks like he has the fire again to compete at the elite level and I think he's out to prove the doubters wrong in 2025.

Ryan Joyce has struggled this season and is looking for a spark to reignite his form. He lost 6-5 against Michael Smith at ET1 but did average 98.26. He's been too inconsistent lately though and has failed to average over 93 in 6 of his last 10 matches on tour.

Joe Cullen is a three-time winner on the European Tour and made it to the final of the Austrian Darts Open in 2024 when he was out of form. He always seems to up his game on the big stage and thrives off the atmosphere but has lost in round 1 in his last 3 Euro Tours.

Ryan Joyce is normally very consistent so I struggle to back against him but he doesn't score as high as Cullen and I think that's where we can find the best value in this contest.

• Ricky Evans To Win: 1/1 at Spreadex

Ricky Evans is starting to find his form after a great run to the last 16 of PC07. He then lost 6-5 in the second round of PC08 to Danny Noppert but averaged 105.05 in defeat. He always seems to come alive on the big stage and I think he'll relish the challenge against the great Dutchman tonight.

Raymond van Barneveld has had two last 16 runs in Players Championship events this year, most recently in his last event in Hildesheim on Wednesday. He lost against James Wade in the first Euro Tour of the season and averaged just 90.28.

Ricky Evans looks like he's finding his form at just the right time and after only qualifying for one European Tour event last season he should be bang up for this.

I just think the price is too big to ignore for an Evans victory and although Barney will have the crowd on his side, I worry a little about his inconsistencies nowadays and Evans can take full advantage of that if he gets off to a fast start.

• Martin Schindler Most 180s & Win: 7/5 at Bet365

Martin Schindler comes into another Euro Tour event in form after winning PC08 in Hildesheim on Wednesday. In 2024 Schindler became the first German to win two PDC titles, the first German to hit a 9 darter on stage, and only the 9th player to win two Euro Tours in one season. He began his 2025 Euro Tour campaign with a run to the last 16 where he lost to Mike de Decker 6-3 but averaged 98.40 in defeat.

Adam Hunt has been around the PDC for a long time but has failed to make an impact consistently enough. His 2025 season has been fairly positive, especially after he qualified for this. Three of his last five matches have been under a 90 average though and he'll need to improve on that tonight if he's to trouble the in-form German.

This is Adam Hunt's first Euro Tour event since 2022 and he lost in round 1 on both occasions that year. This is a huge test for 'The Hunter' and even though I've seen firsthand how big of a scorer he can be, I think he'll struggle to deal with the crowd and Schindler's consistency. Most 180s and Schindler win looks fantastic value here and I expect the German to breeze through to the next round.