European Championship Darts: Sunday predictions, odds, betting tips, order of play & TV times

It's been a dramatic few days at the Westfalenhalle and there's a good chance of there being a first-time major winner crowned on ITV4 tonight.

The other alternatives are world champion Rob Cross silencing his doubters or either James Wade or Simon Whitlock finally getting back in the winners enclosure.

Four quarter-finals take place during Sunday afternoon's session, with the semi-finals and final tonight, so I'll preview those first before picking a player to back for the title.

European Championship: Sunday October 28

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Afternoon Session

Quarter-Finals (Best of 19 legs)
TV Channel: ITV4, 1245 GMT

Steve West (6/5) v Simon Whitlock (4/6)

Head-to-head: 1-5
2018 meetings: 0-1

Considering I warned to stay clear of backing MVG to win his fifth successive European Championship at odds-on prices in my pre-tournament preview, I shouldn't be too surprised that Steve West is in the quarter-finals.

But I am.

The journeyman, who is still searching for a PDC title of any kind and is yet to go beyond the quarter-finals of a televised major, produced his best performance since famously shocking Phil Taylor at the World Grand Prix in 2016 as MVG was sent crashing out having been a 1/20 favourite.

West later admitted his 96 average against a below-par world number one wouldn't be enough to win the tournament but considering nobody left has been ripping up trees either, he might be wrong!

Whitlock averaged just 90 against a faltering Peter Wright as he too produced an upset but he does boast a superior head-to-head record against West.

That doesn't always count for much of course, with the 43-year-old Englishman beating MVG for the first time in his life after 11 successive defeats.

The European Championship remains the only televised major Whitlock has won following his success here back in 2012 and he'll seriously be thinking of glory again.

It's a tough one to call but it will be tight so I'm going for a Match Action bet of there being over 16.5 legs, a high checkout of over 127.5 and over 9.5 total 180s at 7/2.

Prediction: 7-10

Joe Cullen (2/1) v Rob Cross (2/5)

Head-to-head: 0-2
2018 meetings: 0-1

I'm beginning to wish I'd been bolder and backed Joe Cullen to lift the trophy rather than cowardly tipping him at 7/1 to win his quarter of the draw.

'Just' a victory over the world champion will seal profits but if he manages that then he'll have as good a chance - arguably better - as the remaining four players of landing this big major title.

Much has been made this year of the Rockstar almost being on the brink of a proper breakthrough - especially after that epic World Matchplay quarter-final against nine-dart hero Gary Anderson - and this is now the perfect opportunity to do so. Can he grasp it?

In a nutshell, yes.

I think it's fair to say Cullen's performance in a 10-4 rout of Michael Smith, in which he won six legs on the trot, was more impressive than Voltage's 10-2 triumph over Richard North and he shouldn't be seen as such a big underdog.

I'm going to back Cullen at 10/1 for the title even if it does seem the horse has bolted somewhat but as far as this match is concerned I like the 11/4 on both players hitting five 180s or more.

It'll go far and I expect high scoring fireworks from these two talented players.

Prediction: 10-8

Darren Webster (4/6) v Max Hopp (6/5)

Head-to-head: 2-2
2018 meetings: 0-2

There aren't many players who can get their home crowds going as much as Max Hopp does in Germany and it'll be quite some atmosphere at the Westfalenhalle if the youngster can make more history on Sunday.

The former World Youth champion is now the first German to reach the quarter-final of a PDC major and he's clearly driven to spark more wild scenes like he did when landing his first senior trophy on the European Tour in Saarbruecken back in April.

Since then the 22-year-old has added another PDC title on the Players Championship circuit so his confidence is evidently growing at the highest level.

Hopp handled the pressure brilliantly against James Wilson on Saturday night when a showstopping 156 checkout spurred him onto a famous win although his quarter-final opponent Darren Webster has the advantage of experience.

The 50-year-old, who dramatically nailed a 156 checkout to beat Cristo Reyes in a final-leg decider in round two, is appearing in his fifth televised quarter-final, including this year's World Matchplay, although the only time he won was at the 2016 Players Championship Finals.

Hopp has won both of their meetings this year and I fancy him at odds-against prices to reach the semi-finals.

Prediction: 6-10

James Wade (8/13) v Gerwyn Price (5/4)

Head-to-head: 4-3
2018 meetings: 1-0

Regular followers of these darts tips may remember I tipped James Wade at a big price to win the World Grand Prix earlier this month only for the Machine to malfunction.

However it now looks a real possibility that my prediction for him to return to the major winners' enclosure came just one tournament too soon.

The new father, who admits he's more relaxed after the birth of his son and starting to enjoy his darts again, reached a European Tour final a week after Dublin and now finds himself second favourite to win his eighth PDC televised major almost five years after his last at the 2014 Masters.

I don't think he's much value now at 5/1 although anyone who took my pre-tournament tip of 10/3 that the tournament winner will come from the bottom half of the draw will be encouraged by Wade's form.

He'll have to battle hard to get past the feisty Price, who reached the quarter-finals of both the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix this year, and the Welshman seems to be coping well to losing his darts when returning home from Dublin.

He changed his set again prior to his second-round win over Dave Chisnall but he won that comfortably enough 10-5.

My call for this one would be to back there being over 15.5 legs, a high checkout of over 116.5 and over 6.5 total 180s at 6/4.

Prediction: 10-7

Sunday afternoon's suggested darts bets

• West v Whitlock: Over 16.5 legs, a high checkout of over 127.5 and over 9.5 total 180s at 7/2
• Wade v Price: Over 15.5 legs, a high checkout of over 116.5 and over 6.5 total 180s at 6/4
• Hopp to beat Webster at 6/5
• Cullen v Cross: Both players hitting five 180s or more at 11/4
• Click here to place your bets

Sunday's darts acca

• Cullen, Hopp & Wade at 9.66/1
• Click here to build your acca

Sunday specials that catch the eye

• All matches to have 7+ 180s at 2/1
• Cullen v Cross to produce most 180s at 2/1
• Max Hopp to produce highest checkout at 7/1
• Click here to bet on these specials

Tournament winner prediction

• Joe Cullen to win the title at 10/1

Click here to place your bets

Read also

• Full draw, results, schedule & TV guide
• Day three round-up, highlights and stats
• Day two round-up, highlights and stats
• Night one round-up, highlights and stats

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