UK Open darts: Six betting tips for Friday's matches

Darts' 2025 UK Open kicks off on Friday afternoon as the PDC's lower-ranked players try and battle their way through the competition's early rounds.

For our arrows expert Matt Hill (@Matt_Hill93), the opening stages are often the most lucrative in terms of winners. Here, he picks out five Friday matches which are worth a flutter.

UK Open betting tips for Friday, February 28, 2025

Cor Dekker +2.5 legs vs Niko Springer - 10/11 (LiveScore Bet)

I am a huge admirer of Niko Springer, as regulars will know – but the German has not had the easiest opening round draw in the form of Cor Dekker.

Imposing Dutchman Dekker, who actually represents Norway at international level, won his tour card in January for the first time and picked up three decent wins in the latest pair of Players Championship events last week, including a shock success over Chris Dobey.

Dekker also has big-stage experience, having hit a nine-darter during a 6-2 defeat to Stephen Bunting on the Euro Tour last year, so I don’t expect the occasion to overawe him.

Springer is the more naturally talented of the pair but can sometimes see his ridiculously powerful scoring weakened by sloppy doubling – an area he has to work on to truly mix with the elite.

His only previous UK Open match was a 6-5 defeat to Danny Lauby and with the pressure on as a hot favourite, Springer may be made to work harder than the market anticipates.

A +2.5 leg handicap means four legs on the board for Dekker will land us a 5/6 winner.

Tom BIssell to beat Marvin van Velzen - EVS (Ladbrokes)

Two new tour card holders meet here and I think the market may have slightly underestimated the form of Tom Bissell, who is a narrow underdog against Marvin van Velzen.

Prior to their respective Q-School successes, there is no doubt the Dutch star had the greater pedigree having impressed on the Modus Super Series and ADC circuits.

However, Bissell’s surprise success in gaining a card – having never played any PDC darts before winning day one of the UK qualifying school last month – has been backed up with some impressive showings.

BISSELL BREAKS NEW GROUND!

What a story!

Tom Bissell - who had never played in the PDC before this week - defeats Bradley Brooks 6-5 to secure a two-year Tour Card on Day One of Final Stage in Milton Keynes! pic.twitter.com/qXS8crqZRT

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) January 9, 2025

None more so than at Players Championship 3 two weeks ago, where he beat Pro Tour stalwarts Matt Campbell and Martin Schindler in impressive fashion before losing a classy affair with Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 in the last 32.

Bissell is playing like a man with nothing to lose and given the bright start he has made to his career as a professional, I think he can get the better of Van Velzen here at a generous price.

Scott Williams to beat Wessel Nijman - 39/20 (general)

Wessel Nijman could quite easily win this tournament, as the 25/1 quotes as skinny as the man himself suggest. Yet he could equally be set to exit at the first hurdle.

Any quote of 7/4 or bigger about Scott Williams – a recent World Championship semi-finalist no less – bettering Nijman on the big stage in a first to six legs race is worth taking, for my money.

Few have hyped up the Dutch youngster as much as me but Williams is an absolute nightmare draw for him given the older man's ability to go up several gears when a big TV event comes around. 

Shaggy found himself in a similar possession against the aforementioned Springer at the recent World Championship, written off by many against an up-and-coming youngster with much to prove.

He duly prevailed on that occasion and I would not be one bit surprised to see him serve it up to Nijman, who is still learning how to bring that masterful floor game onto the grandest stages on a consistent basis.

Simon Stevenson -3.5 legs vs Jules van Dongen - 10/11 (general)

Simon Stevenson to beat Jules van Dongen 6-0 - 7/1 (general)

Despite being hammered in, this remains the bet of the round here, even if I take little pleasure in placing it.

Dutch-American Van Dongen is suffering brutally with dartitis at the moment and is nobly trying to battle his way through the issue, though to say it’s not been going well in the season’s early weeks is an understatement.

He’s lost all four of his first round Players Championship matches by scorelines of 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 and 6-1 respectively – and is yet to post an average higher than 69.

You have to wonder how much longer he can go on like this and I dearly hope he can turn things around. In the short term, though, his opponents – in this case, Simon Stevenson – are worth siding with. 

Stevenson is a former tour card holder and boasts some great form here from yesteryear, having reached the quarter-finals in 2019 and the fifth round in 2020. 

He’s a steady and experienced customer who shouldn’t be fazed by his opponent’s struggles, so the general 10/11 about him dealing with Van Dongen 6-2 or better looks great value.

Heck, I couldn’t put you off a little dabble on the 6-0 Stevenson at a chunky 7/1 with three different firms either. To say there's a 12.5% chance of this ending in a whitewash win is way off.

Jim Williams to beat Martin Lukeman - 11/8 (Bet365)

Two classy customers clash in round three here as Pro Tour winner Jim Williams meets last year's Grand Slam of Darts finalist Martin Lukeman – and its Williams I want to be with at the prices.

Quite simply, the market is leaning towards making this a 60/40 in favour of Lukeman, but I read it much closer to a coin flip. And if my judgement is right, betting the dog in such circumstances is always a wise move, regardless of outcome.

Williams hasn't turned up at any of the four Pro Tours this year but that's no cause for alarm. The Welshman balances his darts career with running a full-time business so has always been one to skip events when required.

This has arguably stopped Williams from kicking on and reaching his full potential, but he still has the class to compete with the very best even when lacking match practice. 

Lukeman has not been at his vintage best so far this term either. I really like Smash as a bloke and a player but an average of under 90 across his nine matches on the floor this year makes him worth taking on here.

Matt Hill's UK Open betting tips for Friday,  February 28

Cor Dekker +2.5 legs vs Niko Springer - 10/11 (LiveScore Bet)

Tom BIssell to beat Marvin van Velzen - EVS (Ladbrokes)

Scott Williams to beat Wessel Nijman - 39/20 (general)

Simon Stevenson -3.5 legs vs Jules van Dongen - 10/11 (general) - NAP

Simon Stevenson to beat Jules van Dongen 6-0 - 7/1 (general)

Jim Williams to beat Martin Lukeman - 11/8 (Bet365)