Darts European Grand Prix: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Rob Cross is the defending champion, but there could be another Englishman to follow in Germany at the European Grand Prix - and not one of the usual suspects.

Forty-eight players have gathered in Sindelfingen, Germany, for the European Grand Prix, the fourth of 13 events on this year’s European Tour.

Rob Cross is the defending champion, heading an all-star cast list, including two-time champion Michael van Gerwen plus Premier League aces Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, who are set to meet in round two.

European Grand Prix betting tips and predictions

Ross Smith each-way - 40/1

The first three European Tour events of 2024 have produced six different finalists, and the European Grand Prix looks as wide open as the previous trio.

World champion and world No.1 Luke Humphries is seeded two but is the man to beat, although he is pencilled in to meet Premier League rival Luke Littler in round two, presuming The Nuke takes care of Arno Merk in his opener.

Both Lukes feature in the top half of a draw packed with big names, including Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, a fit-again Gary Anderson and the defending champion Rob Cross, who in round two is slated to meet Martin Schindler - the winner of last weekend’s International Open in Riese.

Schindler, who first needs to beat dangerous Dutch ace Gian van Veen in round one, will have the crowd on his side in Sindelfingen’s in Glaspalast. And Cross, off the boil in the Premier League, won’t relish meeting either of those two dangers.

Van Gerwen will be delighted to be in the bottom half of the draw - definitely the weaker half - where a player of the calibre of Ross Smith should be confident of coming through.

No.12 seed Smith is having a solid start to the year with runs to three Players Championship semi-finals and, last week, the last eight of the International Open, where a 103 average wasn’t quite enough to take care of Price.

Smith, the European champion two years ago, has rediscovered his big-scoring touch and should be confident of having a good run at the Glaspalast at 40/1.

Ricardo Pietreczko each-way - 100/1

If Smith doesn’t emerge from the bottom half, then Ricardo Pietreczko might also be worth a punt at 100/1.

Pikachu, as the 29-year-old is known, is one of seven Germans toeing the oche in front of their own fans - and German supporters are renowned for their partisan support.

The No.16 seed will definitely be taking on another German in round two - he meets the winner of the tie between the affable giant Gabriel Clemens and Rene Eidams - but Pikachu will have no worries about taking on either.

Pietreczko is one of the rising stars of the game, winning the German Darts Championship at the back end of 2023 - he beat Michael van Gerwen en route to glory - and then kicking off 2024 by reaching the semis at the Belgian Open.

Get on Edhouse to Wade into round two

There are 16 first-round ties on Friday for the right to meet the 16 top seeds with the showdown between Littler and Merk anticipated with the winner meeting Humphries.

The Nuke is a 1/66 shot unsurprisingly but there is some value elsewhere in round one, among them Jose de Sousa to beat Daryl Gurney at 11/10.

These two established stars have actually met only three times on tour and De Sousa has bagged the lot, most recently at last year’s Hungarian Open.

Another head-to-head record to dine out on is the one between Andrew Gilding and Brendan Dolan. They met four times in 2023, Goldfinger won the lot and is worth trusting at evens.

And have a look at Ritchie Edhouse at 6/4 to beat James Wade.

The Machine has all the pedigree, but last week in Riese at the International Open, Edhouse averaged over 100, beating Michael Smith and Cross before losing a last-leg shootout against Stephen Bunting.

Read more darts tips and predictions.

European Grand Prix odds

Luke Humphries	4/1
Luke Littler	5/1
Michael van Gerwen	11/2
Gerwyn Price	7/1
Gary Anderson	11/1
Michael Smith	16/1

(Odds to display when market is available)

View the full market and more odds for the European Grand Prix on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.