The arrows continue to fly this week as the UK Open kicks off in Minehead on Friday February 28.
The short-format tournament offers darts fans a quick break from the Premier League Darts action with the winner crowned on March 2.
Our tipster Ben Smith steps up to the oche with his outright picks for the competition!
UK Open Darts Tips
Dimitri van den Bergh to win (Each-Way)
Jermaine Wattimena to win (Each-Way)
James Wade to win (Each-Way)
Bradley Brooks to win (Each-Way)
Dimitri van den Bergh to win (Each-Way)
The UK Open format is not for everyone, but it clearly suits Dimitri van den Bergh, who built up a head of steam 12 months ago as he triumphed in Minehead, defeating Luke Humphries in a fascinating final.
Pro Tour form simply does not matter for the Belgian when he rocks up at a big tournament. Heading into last year’s UK Open, Van den Bergh had entered four floor events in February and won just three matches. When he lifted the Phil Taylor trophy at the World Matchplay in 2020, he had managed only five wins in five Players Championship tournaments that month.
Van den Bergh has never won on the European Tour, and has just one floor title in the last three years, but his consistency in reaching the latter stages of majors is only matched by those at the top of the betting board this week.
At the World Masters a month ago, the Dreammaker hit a nine-darter against Michael van Gerwen en route to a fourth semi final in eight televised ranking event appearances dating back to the same competition in 2024.
Jermaine Wattimena to win (Each-Way)
A much-improved player over the last six months, Jermaine Wattimena is on an upward trend after slipping down the rankings in recent years.
The Dutchman’s run to the European Championship final in October seemed to give him renewed belief which carried into the Grand Slam, where he reached the last eight before running into an on-song Luke Littler.
Wattimena has made two Players Championship quarter finals this year, already matching his combined total from 2023 and 2024. He has done that with a 96 average for the year to date, a nice jump from the low-90s figures he delivered throughout the earlier part of the decade.
He has not quite cracked the top 32, so will enter the UK Open in round three where he faces Florian Hempel, who could be awkward but has been whitewashed in his last two matches.
James Wade to win (Each-Way)
Eleven-time major winner James Wade has been crowned UK Open champion three times, most recently in 2021, when it was held in Milton Keynes behind closed doors.
None of the Machine’s three victories happened in Minehead, but he did put up a valiant defence of his title in 2022, losing out in the quarters after winning three matches during the weekend.
He will need more luck in the draw this time, as being paired with Gary Anderson and Littler in each of the last two years has resulted in back-to-back early exits.
Wade had to scrap to make the Matchplay in Blackpool last summer and since achieving that, he reached one major semi final and one quarter final. He then lost two final leg deciders in subsequent PDC premier events as he threatened to go deep.
He was a popular pick for tournaments in the second half of 2024, but appears to be under the radar again, which is reflected in a very attractive outright price.
Bradley Brooks to win (Each-Way)
The beauty of the UK Open is the possibilities it creates for lower-ranked players to break through. Irish pair William O’Connor and Keane Barry were 37th and 66th respectively in the Order of Merit when they made the last four in 2022.
Even greater surprises followed in 2023, as 62nd-ranked Adam Gawlas made the semis, and Andrew Gilding, world number 41 at the time, claimed his maiden title.
In a field of 160, it’s a tall order to forecast which outsiders will significantly outrun their odds but we can only look at the clues offered by performances leading into the tournament.
Bradley Brooks has plenty of practice playing lots of games on the same day, having regained his Tour Card in spectacular fashion in January, setting a Q-School record by racking up 16 points across the four rounds.
The 25-year-old then won five consecutive games in the World Masters preliminary rounds to seal a spot in the main draw, where he was ultimately beaten by Van Gerwen.
He had some difficult draws on his Pro Tour return, but ran Littler very close at PC2, forcing a deciding leg which the world champion cleaned up in 11 darts.
Brooks’ first nine darts thrown on average in 2025 is upwards of 103, and he can make a decent stab at this, if he takes his opportunities.
UK Open Darts Tips
Dimitri van den Bergh to win (Each-Way)
Jermaine Wattimena to win (Each-Way)
James Wade to win (Each-Way)
Bradley Brooks to win (Each-Way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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