Swiss Darts Trophy 2025 Betting Preview: Outright Odds & Predictions
The European Tour is almost over, with just two events remaining. Starting on Friday, the Tour hits Basel with the 2025 Swiss Darts Trophy. With Luke Littler and MVG out, this could be the most unpredictable event yet! Join me as I preview the action and share my Swiss Darts Trophy 2025 betting tips
The PDC European Tour heads to Switzerland this weekend for the penultimate stop of the 2025 season, a crucial event in the race for European Championship qualification. The Swiss Darts Trophy – the 13th of 14 events on this year’s calendar – will see 48 players competing for glory at Basel’s famed St. Jakobshalle.
This tournament presents a wide-open field, creating fantastic value for bettors. Below, we break down the tournament details, format, key contenders, and the latest outright betting odds, along with expert predictions and recommended bets.
Swiss Darts Trophy 2025 Dates and Venue
Tournament: 2025 Swiss Darts Trophy (European Tour Event 13 of 14)
Dates: Friday, 26 September – Sunday, 28 September 2025
Venue: St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland
The Swiss Darts Trophy returns to Basel for its second edition after a spectacular inaugural event in 2024. Germany’s Martin Schindler clinched the title in a nail-biting 8–7 final leg decider against Ryan Searle, and he returns this week as the defending champion and 16th seed. This intense three-day tournament will conclude on Sunday night, with the winner lifting the trophy and pocketing the £30,000 top prize from a total prize fund of £175,000.
Format and Draw
This tournament follows the standard PDC European Tour format, which is played entirely in legs, not sets. Matches in the first three rounds and quarter-finals are a best of 11 legs (first to 6), increasing to a best of 13 legs (first to 7) in the semi-finals, and culminating in a best-of-15-legs final (first to 8) on Sunday evening.
A total of 48 players are in the field, with the draw structured to introduce the top seeds in the second round:
- First Round (Friday): The 32 qualifiers face off in 16 matches. The winners advance to play the seeded players.
- Second Round (Saturday): The 16 seeded players from the PDC ProTour Order of Merit enter the fray, each facing a winner from Friday’s first round.
- Final Day (Sunday): The tournament concludes with two sessions. The third round (last 16) and quarter-finals take place in the afternoon, followed by the semi-finals and the final in the evening session.
Qualification: The 48-player line-up is composed of the top 16 seeded players, 16 qualifiers from the ProTour Order of Merit, 10 Tour Card Holder Qualifiers, and six regional qualifiers, including four spots for Swiss Host Nation players.
Swiss Darts Trophy: The Field
The Swiss Darts Trophy field features a host of the PDC’s biggest names alongside emerging talents and local hopefuls. World No.1 Luke Humphries headlines the 16 seeded players. “Cool Hand Luke” has cemented his top-dog status this season with a World Matchplay title and two European Tour victories already under his belt.
He is joined by former world champions Rob Cross and Peter Wright, UK Open champion Josh Rock, Masters champion Stephen Bunting, and perennial contenders Damon Heta and Danny Noppert.
Notably absent is teenage sensation Luke Littler, the reigning World Champion, who has opted to manage his schedule and is not competing in Basel. In another major development, three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen has also withdrawn from the event to focus on securing his qualification for the Players Championship Finals. These high-profile absences blow the draw wide open and create a huge opportunity for other contenders to step up.
With Littler and MVG out, Luke Humphries rightfully inherits the mantle of tournament favourite. However, Gerwyn Price enters in blistering form, having won a Players Championship event last month and reached the final of the World Grand Prix.
The player truly on everyone’s lips is Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock, whose consistency in 2025 has seen him reach multiple TV semi-finals alongside his maiden major triumph at the UK Open. Rock was also part of the duo that scooped the 2025 World Cup of Darts.
Others to watch include the ever-dangerous James Wade, the prolific scorer Stephen Bunting, and young Dutch talent Gian van Veen, who captured his first ProTour title earlier this year and is widely tipped for a major breakthrough.
Outright Betting Odds (Snapshot)
The outright market reflects just how competitive this year’s Swiss Darts Trophy is expected to be. Below are example odds, which will vary slightly between bookmakers:
- Luke Humphries – 4/1
- Gerwyn Price – 6/1
- Josh Rock – 13/2
- Rob Cross – 18/1
- Chris Dobey – 20/1
- Gian van Veen – 20/1
- Stephen Bunting – 20/1
- Damon Heta – 22/1
- Gary Anderson – 25/1
- Martin Schindler – 33/1
*Odds are for illustrative purposes and subject to change. As of 25 September 2025.
Betting Predictions and Picks
Josh Rock has been in sensational form all season and has proven he can translate that into knockout tournament wins. His scoring power is immense, and his composure has grown tenfold since his UK Open victory. At around 13/2 odds, he represents the best combination of elite form and genuine winning potential in an open field. He is our headline pick to win the Swiss Darts Trophy.
For a strong each-way betting choice, defending champion Martin Schindler looks hugely appealing at 33/1. He thrives on the European Tour stage, and returning to the site of his greatest triumph will provide immense confidence. A recent semi-final run at the German Darts Championship shows his 2024 victory was no fluke, making him a dangerous outsider.
James Wade (around 25/1) is the quintessential “sleeper” pick. “The Machine” is a master of the best-of-11 format, where his clinical finishing and ability to punish mistakes can dismantle higher-scoring opponents. Having quietly reached several quarter-finals this year, he possesses the experience and killer instinct to navigate this draw and offers great value. For those who prefer backing young talent, Gian van Veen is another excellent each-way option at 20/1 following his ProTour win.
Local Players to Watch
Four Swiss players have qualified via the Host Nation route, giving the passionate home crowd plenty to cheer for. Long-time Swiss No.1 Stefan Bellmont will likely lead the local charge, and while they are all significant outsiders, the raucous support of the St. Jakobshalle crowd could inspire one of them to spring a first-round upset. Regional qualifiers such as Andreas Toft Jørgensen (Nordic & Baltic) and Dalibor Šmolík (East European) will also be looking to make their mark and gain valuable stage experience against the world’s best.
Summary and Recommended Bets
The 2025 Swiss Darts Trophy promises to be one of the most compelling and unpredictable European Tour events of the season. With two of the sport’s biggest names absent, this tournament offers a golden chance for both established stars and rising talents to claim silverware. Expect drama, high averages, and a few surprises along the way. Our recommended bets:
- Outright Winner – Josh Rock (13/2): In the form of his life, a proven major winner, and perfectly suited to this format.
- Each-Way Value – Martin Schindler (33/1): The defending champion loves the European stage and returns with confidence.
- Sleeper Pick – James Wade (~25/1): A master of the format with the experience and clinical edge to surprise the field.
Basel is set to host a thrilling weekend of darts as a mix of big names, rising stars, and local hopefuls battle for the title. Bettors should be ready for an open contest where genuine value can be found throughout the market.
For more insights and predictions, explore our darts predictions in our betting tips section.
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