European Darts Championship 2024: betting odds and prediction

Who will win the prestigious award?

On Thursday, 24th October, the European Darts Championship, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation, kicks off. This event will feature 32 darts players regarded as some of the strongest worldwide. So, who will win the title, and whose performance should we keep a keen eye on?

Qualification for the European Championship was secured through the PDC Euro Tour—a series of tournaments held across various European cities. In total, 13 tournaments took place in 2024, culminating in a ranking that determined the top 32 players to compete in the European Championship.

The tournament will take place in Dortmund, Germany, at the Westfalenhallen Exhibition Centre, which can accommodate up to 15,000 fans. The tournament will be held in the following format:

First Round — Best of 11 legs

Second Round — Best of 19 legs

Quarter-Finals — Best of 19 legs

Semi-Finals — Best of 21 legs

Final — Best of 21 legs

The European Championship darts 2024 betting odds

1. Luke Humphries — 333/100

2. Luke Littler — 4/1

3. Michael van Gerwen — 7/1

4. Gerwyn Price — 12/1

5. Gary Anderson — 14/1

World champion Humphries may add a title to his collection

Traditionally, reigning world champion Luke Humphries is the favourite for any major darts tournament. Humphries arrives at the European Championship in excellent form, having recently played in the Grand Prix final and, just a few days ago, clinched victory in remarkable style at the final stage of the PDC Euro Tour in Prague. With his brief slump behind him, Humphries is once again primed for great accomplishments. In Dortmund, Luke is aiming to capture a title that is not yet in his collection.

Humphries' main rival will be Luke Littler. The 17-year-old prodigy stunned everyone by delivering three matches with averages exceeding 110+ at the last stage of the PDC Euro Tour. Only Humphries managed to stop him, yet Littler had proven he shouldn’t be underestimated. The teenager remains a formidable contender, and any lapse in concentration from his opponents could be costly. Littler could face Humphries in the European Championship semifinals, a highly anticipated clash well before it even begins.

Third in the bookmakers' favourites list is Michael van Gerwen. The three-time world champion suffered a heavy defeat to Luke Littler in Prague, despite an impressive average of 112.19. However, there are positives in this outcome. MVG is on the mend and ready to showcase top-tier gameplay. The occurrence with Littler is considered an anomaly. Such instances are unlikely at the European Championship, which makes Michael a very dangerous opponent.

Why Gerwyn Price is still viewed as a favourite remains a mystery. The once-great Welshman is plagued with back pain, causing him to miss the tournament in Prague. Price isn’t displaying the level of play that fans once admired. His back issues make it difficult for him to reach his best form. It's hard to envision Gerwyn miraculously recovering and defeating everyone on the TV stage. Objectively, the Welshman currently doesn't even rank among the top ten contenders at the European Championship.

Meanwhile, it will be intriguing to watch Gary Anderson, considered the fifth favourite. His form isn't always consistent, but he increasingly delivers strong averages and defeats tougher opponents. Anderson’s only stumbling block is his first-round opponent, Stephen Bunting, who is in excellent form. Their match promises to be the highlight of the European Championship's first round.

Martin Schindler enters the tournament as the top seed, having secured first place in the PDC Euro Tour rankings after 13 tournaments. However, calling him a clear favourite would be premature. While he won stages in Riesa and Basel, solidifying his position at the forefront of German darts and edging closer to the PDC top 20 ranking, his gameplay still lacks elite status. Reaching the quarterfinals would be a significant achievement for Schindler, and any victory beyond that would be a major upset.

What is the prize money for the European Championship darts 2024?

Prize Fund:

• Champion – £120,000

• Runner-up – £60,000

• Semi-finalists – £40,000 each

• Quarter-finalists – £25,000 each

• Second Round – £15,000 each

• First Round – £7,500 each

Total Prize Fund – £600,000

Can the European Champion 2023 regain the title?

The 2023 European Champion was Scottish darts player Peter Wright, who defeated James Wade 11:6 in the final. In the 2024 European Championship, Wright is seeded tenth, with odds of 28/1 James Wade is seeded 26th, with odds of 66/1