Betfred World Matchplay 2025 Betting Tips: Day 3 Preview at the Winter Gardens

Electric stuff already at the Winter Gardens in the Betfred World Matchplay.

Here's a bet I'm recommending for Monday. I think we already know it's going to be dramatic!

Betfred World Matchplay Odds

Darts Odds

Over 13.5 total 180s in Josh Rock vs Ross Smith @ 20/21

This is without doubt one of the most exciting ties of the first round. They met in the first round here last year, with Ross running out a comfortable 10-4 winner.

This time around, I suspect it’s going to be a lot more competitive, as Rock has lit up the PDC this year with some mesmerising scoring power and eye-catching performances.

Rocky sits third in the world for overall averages over the course of 2025, and only the two Luke’s are ahead of him. Josh has averaged 100+ in 27 of his last 47 matches, and if he produces that level over this format then he’ll be very tough to beat anyone.

Smudger has a had slightly more tame year but has still impressed at times, picking up a Pro Tour title in May in dominant fashion, having done everything bar win a tournament this year up until that point.

He hasn’t quite hit the same heights since but will always be a dangerous opponent for anyone. It’d be fair to say that neither have fulfilled their full potential in the big televised events yet - Smith won the European Championship in 2023, but hasn’t come close to adding to that since. Rock did win the World Cup with Daryl Gurney last month so may take some time encouragement from that now he’s tasted sweet success on a big stage.

Unsurprisingly, I’d rather focus on the 180s here - we’re talking about two of the biggest maximum hitters in the world. Over the past year, Rock is averaging 0.38 180s per leg, Smith 0.37 180s per leg. So a combined 0.75 180s per leg, three 180s between them for every four legs on average.

It’s worth mentioning that Rock has been even more frequent on them this year. Realistically 17+ legs should be enough for them to get to 14+ 180s between them, which bodes well as I expect it to be a tight match. They played 19 legs in a thriller at the UK Open in March, and that match produced a stunning 19 maximums.

They played in a Pro Tour semi last August, hitting 10 180s in 13 legs. If they continue in that vein then this will land assuming it’s a fairly tight match.

Chris Dobey most 180s vs Ricardo Pietreczko @ 2/9

Dobey absolutely destroyed Ricardo on the European Tour back in April, winning 6-1 and averaging 21 points higher than the German.

I’m sure this one will be a bit more competitive, considering the head-to-head actually reads as 2-2. The Geordie man has actually lost in the opening round in three of his previous five Matchplay appearances, so may be a bit vulnerable having not enjoyed the best of years so far.

The Pro Tour form is still very much there, but he’s failed to take that consistently good level to the televised tournaments in 2025, or last year for that matter. Pietreczko lost out on his Matchplay debut here last year, but proved a stern test for Luke Humphries, causing him problems early on and although losing comfortably, still averaged over 100 himself.

A similar-type performance could see him cause problems for Dobey. I do think it’s a possibility as he seems to be a far more dangerous player in-front of the bigger crowds, as he’s shown with some of his success on the European Tour.

For that reason, I think Dobey is a lot more reliable in the 180s count. Over the past year, Dobey is hitting 0.36 180s per leg, in comparison to just 0.17 180s per leg from Pietreczko. However much trouble Dobey is or isn’t in in terms of winning the match, we can rely on Hollywood to hit at least a few 180s and I don’t think Ricardo matches him in that department.

Darts Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.