European Championship - Preview

Preview Only last Sunday in Blackpool the final of the World Matchplay was played - today in Düsseldorf the European Championship will begin. How have the players coped with Blackpool? What did they do in the short break between the two tournaments to recover, to keep up the form or to improve it?

The only player of whom we know what he did is John Part. After he lost his first-round match despite his first ever televised nine-darter he reappeared - might be after a short stay at home in Canada - at the weekend in Hong Kong to play in "The World" tournament, a big soft-dart tournament, where he reached the semi-finals on Sunday. Tonight he'll play his first-round match against Peter Wright in Düsseldorf - looks like quite a strenuous time.
From Phil Taylor we heard in the break that he's problems with his left shoulder and plans surgery soon. He then will take a break from darts.

In Düsseldorf more or less the same players will play as in Blackpool. Only the ranks 9 - 16 of the Players Championship Order of Merit will be replaced by eight qualifiers from the European Order of Merit. After his win in Blackpool to be sure Phil Taylor is under the favourites for this tournament as well. He could win all previous European Championships and showed himself in top form in Blackpool. But it seems he at the moment can't keep up his top form as consistently as in previous years. Players like Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson and Simon Whitlock may feel they have something to prove. Andy Hamilton to be sure will try to be as successful as in Blackpool. And of course James Wade has the same chance again to somehow wind his way through.

Between the players who have qualified by the European Order of Merit are Jelle Klaasen, Michael van Gerwen and Co Stompe whom one should never underestimate. While during the first three years there always were some German participants this year no German player managed to qualify. Only the strong Austrian Mensur Suljovic will represent the German speaking players but he has to play against Simon Whitlock in his first round match - certainly not an easy task. European Order of Merit qualifiers will Kim Huybrechts and Antonio Alcinas will meet first round - so one of them will still be in the tournament in the second round.

Though most of the players are the same only one first round match of the World Matchplay will be repeated - Wes Newton will once again play Andy Smith. Beside this will be newly assorted.

Due to the short format of the first round matches there could be some upsets. Players who tend to have a slow start could easily get in trouble.







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