Betfred World Matchplay 2025 Betting Tips: Asp to star in opening night double
The Betfred World Matchplay starts this Saturday night (19:00), at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Every single day of the competition, we will have price boosts on site and predictions from our star darts tipster Sean Rafferty.
There are three former winners in action on Saturday evening and Sean has included one of them in his opening double.
Betfred World Matchplay Saturday Tips
2.5 units double @ 7/4
Danny Noppert to beat Cameron Menzies @ 4/6
I was fairly impressed with Noppert last weekend at the Baltic Sea Darts Open - The Dutchman saw off Mike De Decker and Nathan Aspinall in fine fashion, before being well beaten by Chris Dobey in the quarter finals. He averaged over 100 against De Decker, despite eighteen missed darts at double, which says it all about how good his scoring power was, with a first-9 average of over 123.
Scoring power isn’t something Noppert is renowned for and is better known for his steadiness and consistency, but it’s nice to know he has that level in his armoury. Noppie does has a mixed record here - he’s suffered three opening round exits in six previous appearances at the Winter Gardens, but did enjoy a run to the semi finals in 2022.
Menzies makes his debut in Blackpool, after enjoying some success on the Pro Tour over the past twelve months, where he consistently won a few matches at most Players Championship events. Unfortunately for him, I don’t feel like he’s coming into this in top form - up until last weekend, Cammy averaged below 99 in 25 consecutive matches, which was a complete contrast to some of the numbers he’d been posting at the tail end of last year and at times earlier this year. Menzies made three finals in the opening eleven PC events of 2025, yet hasn’t made it past the last 16 stage in the following seven PC events he’s played since then.
The Winter Gardens is known for being one of the hottest venues in darts, especially in the height of summer. This is something I’m not convinced Menzies will cope with very well, on top of the pressure of making his debut in a huge major and not having the best record in PDC majors to date. The occasion may get the better of Menzies, whereas I reckon Noppie will just do what Noppie does - solid scoring, solid finishing. Probably the best value selection on day one.
Nathan Aspinall to beat Wessel Nijman @ 4/6
This year has been a revelation for Aspinall, having endured a torrid time for eighteen months prior, mainly due to struggling with injuries and a dose of the dreaded dartitis. Having had surgery for the injuries, he’s finally managed to find his feet again and is arguably playing as well as he ever has these past few months.
The Asp has enjoyed lifting two European Tour titles this year, having never won one prior to 2025. There were many eyebrows raised when he was included in this year’s Premier League line-up, but he somewhat justified his inclusion with a third place finish in the league phase, followed by a brave effort in defeat to eventual champion Luke Humphries in the semi finals.
Nathan recently said in a post-match interview that he feels like he’s going to win every match he steps up to the oche just now, which tells you how great he feels about his game at the moment. He does have to defend a substantial amount of prize money from lifting this title two years ago, so does have that added pressure, but he handles pressure better than most in my opinion. He’s won his opening round match in the last four editions of the World Matchplay, I fancy him to make that five against Nijman.
Nijman is one of the most hyped up young players on tour at the moment, it’s no surprise considering some of the numbers he’s posted, as well as winning a Pro Tour title last year. His majors record so far, albeit still early on in his professional career, isn’t as impressive. The Dutchman hasn’t made it past the third round in any of the seven televised PDC events he’s played in to date.
It may be a tricky match for Asp but he has the tenacity and experience to come out on top, he was in trouble against Nijman in a Euro Tour match in June, but fought back to win 7-6. This one could pan out similarly.
Odds correct at time of publishing.
You can find all Sean's latest Darts Betting Tips on our main Insights content hub.
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