We have already reached the penultimate European Tour tournament of 2024. And not just any, because the Swiss Darts Trophy 2024 is the first PDC ranking tournament ever in Switzerland. Read our preview in collaboration with Dartsnieuws.com here:
Basel’s St. Jakobshalle was given the honor of hosting the tournament. The Swiss Darts Trophy is the twelfth European Tour tournament this year. This season, European Tour tournaments have already been played in Belgium, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Hungary. Another tournament will be held in the Czech Republic later this year.
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Darts in Switzerland
With Roger Federer (tennis), Fabian Cancellara (cycling), Vreni Schneider (alpine skiing) and Simon Ammann (ski jumping), Switzerland has produced some sports icons, but darts are still quiet in the Alpine country.
In 2017, Switzerland was allowed to take part in the World Cup of Darts for the first time, but after two participations they disappeared from the field again. The Swiss were there again in the last three editions under the leadership of Stefan Bellmont. Belli is currently considered the best darts player in Switzerland.
Bellmont does not currently hold a tour card, but has had the opportunity to make a number of appearances on the Pro Tour as a substitute player. Bellmont managed to win a PDC Challenge Tour tournament in both 2022 and 2024. However, Bellmont is missing from the first Swiss Darts Trophy as he did not make it through the Host Nation Qualifier.
Perhaps setting up a PDC tournament could give darts a new boost and attract new talent.
Participant
Swiss fans get to see most of the dart stars at the Swiss Darts Trophy. The biggest absent name is Michael van Gerwen, who cannot take part due to illness. In addition, Gary Anderson will not be there in Basel either.
Big names like Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, Michael Smith, Rob Cross, Dave Chisnall, Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright have traveled to Switzerland. Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko are also there.
Top 16 seeded players: Dave Chisnall, Ross Smith, Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, Danny Noppert, Josh Rock, Stephen Bunting, Damon Heta, Ryan Searle, Martin Schindler, Rob Cross, Gian van Veen, Chris Dobey, Luke Littler, Ricardo Pietreczko, Daryl Gurney
Order of Merit Qualifikanten: Jonny Clayton, Michael Smith, Raymond van Barneveld, Peter Wright, Krzysztof Ratajski, Ritchie Edhouse, Brendan Dolan, Luke Woodhouse, James Wade, Andrew Gilding, Joe Cullen, Callan Rydz, Dimitri Van den Bergh, Nathan Aspinall
Remaining qualifiers: Mike de Decker, Cameron Menzies, Wessel Nijman, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Karel Sedlacek, Jermaine Wattimena, Madars Razma, Richard Veenstra, Ryan Meikle, Graham Hall, Anton Östlund, Nandor Pres, Jim Williams, Ian White, 4x Host Nation Qualifiers
Favorites
Over the last few weeks we’ve stuck with Luke Humphries as the top favorite every time, but this time we’re betting on Luke Littler. Unlike Humphries, The Nuke took a week’s vacation and missed the European Tour tournament in Hungary and the two Players Championship tournaments in Leicester.
Humphries and Littler could meet very early in the tournament. If both win their opening game, they will meet in the round of 16 on Sunday afternoon. In the same group is Peter Wright, who first has to win against Richard Veenstra in order to force a duel with Humphries.
So to find another favorite we need to look at other areas of the draw. This is where Dave Chisnall comes into play, who leads the seeding list in Basel. Chizzy has already had a successful month with a European Tour and a Players Championship title.
Our three outsiders also come from England. Can Ross Smith and Chris Dobey finally add a European Tour title to their resume? Or will Michael Smith manage to make his calling card for the hot autumn season?
*** Luke Littler
** Luke Humphries, Dave Chisnall
* Michael Smith, Ross Smith, Chris Dobey
TV broadcast
The Swiss Darts Trophy will be broadcast live on DAZN. As is usual with European Tour tournaments, the Swiss Darts Trophy consists of three tournament days. The afternoon sessions begin at 1:00 p.m. daily, while the evening sessions begin at 7:00 p.m.
The first round will be played on Friday. Then the 16 qualifiers from the Order of Merit and the winners of the various qualifying tournaments will compete. The top 16 seeded players will enter the tournament in the second round on Saturday. The highlight of the tournament follows on Sunday with the third round, which takes place in the afternoon. The quarterfinals, semifinals and final will take place on Sunday evening.
Distribution of prize money
This European Tour tournament will see prize money totaling £175,000 shared among the 48 participants. You will receive at least 1250 pounds as entry fee. The top 16 seeded players who move into the German Darts Championship from the second round onwards will receive £2,500 anyway.
You must – like the 16 Order of Merit qualifiers who start in the first round – win their first game so that the prize money is counted towards the world rankings and the other rankings. The winner of the German Darts Championship 2024 will ultimately go home with the main prize of £30,000.
Format
First round: Best of 11 legs
Second round: Best of 11 legs
Third round: Best of 11 legs
Quarterfinals: Best of 11 Legs
Semifinals: Best of 13 Legs
Finale: Best of 15 Legs
