The German Darts Grand Prix is the third event on this year’s PDC European Tour and the sport’s biggest stars descend on Munich for the action this weekend.
Michael van Gerwen comes into this event rated at 4/1, having won its last three editions, although the tournament last appeared on the schedule back in 2019.
Four in a row for MVG?
The Dutchman had a fallow 2021, but has been in strong form this year, winning the German Darts Championship in March and topping the table in the Premier League after 10 nights.
MVG has won three of those nights and reached another final and is clearly in much better nick than in the previous year.
Van Gerwen is the rightful favourite for this event and should go well, although considering the depth in top-level darts right now might be short enough in the betting, especially considering he has a tricky quarter - with Jose de Sousa, Callan Rydz and Rob Cross all housed there.
A potential third-round game against 2017 runner-up Cross looks likely and there are plenty of banana skins in that section of the draw, with the Englishman 22/1 to take the title.
Hometown hopes chasing success
German stars always receive a hero’s welcome whenever they play in their home country and that will be no different this weekend in Munich.
Gabriel Clemens is the shortest in the betting of the local players, 80/1, and faces either Adam Gawlas or Martin Lukeman in the second round.
Martin Schindler is 100/1 and starts out against Jermaine Wattimena, before a potential clash with eighth seed Brendan Dolan, while Lukas Wenig, Dragutin Horvat and Max Hopp round out the German contingent.
Hopp became the first from his nation to win a PDC tour event when he was victorious in the German Darts Open in 2018 and he is a 250/1 shot in this event.
Rising stars seeking breakthrough victories
As referenced earlier, the depth in top-level darts is greater than it has been for many years and two young stars who could be ready to move into the elite are Ryan Searle and Luke Humphries.
Good friends off the oche, the pair have both won floor events this year and were both beaten in major finals in 2021, so look likely to make a breakthrough sooner rather than later.
Searle has reached the final of three of the 13 Players Championship events so far this campaign and will be hungry for success in Munich given he has never won a PDC stage event.
Heavy Metal is housed in the top quarter with Gerwyn Price the main danger. However, Price has been battling a hand injury and the former world champion has been beatable in this year’s Premier League.
At 16/1 the unassuming Searle could be set to make a splash here.
Humphries beat Searle in his maiden Players Championship success this year and is looking to transfer that form on to the big stage.
The 2019 World Youth Champion reached the final of last year’s UK Open, so is familiar with big events and has landed in a winnable quarter of the draw, with the inconsistent Michael Smith and Joe Cullen the main dangers.
Humphries is 25/1 to secure his first stage title and may be overpriced.
