World Darts Betting Tips Day 16: Hood can maintain second round level

• Justin Hood is one of the stories of the tournament

• Happy Feet's debut run to continue

• Rydz and Rock to both perform

Hood can go further

If you weren't aware of what Justin Hood was capable of before his tie against Danny Noppert, you are now. Not only was that contest the best we have seen at this year's World Championship but it was also one of the greatest we've seen in 2025.

Competing at the Alexandra Palace for the first time in his career, you could have forgiven the Englishman for stumbling slightly as he approached the finishing line, for stuttering when The Freeze hit him with ludicrously clutch 157 and 127 checkouts but instead, he continued to score heavily and carve out enough opportunities for himself to book his spot in the Last 32.

I've seen enough of him over the years to trust that he can build on that and won't roll over and have his belly tickled when he faces Ryan Meikle this Christmas weekend.

Hood ended the second round top of the leaderboard in the race to collect the Ballon d'Art, awarded to the player who hits the most 180s during the tournament. The debutant has already hit 16 across his opening two matches, five more than Luke Littler had at the same stage.

As for his opponent, The Barber was also involved in a five setter but whilst he had to come from 2-0 down, did not do so by showing the same standard of darts as Happy Feet did.

Meikle has a higher level than previously produced at Ally Pally but it rarely clicks for him on that stage to allow him to perform at his best.

I'm backing Justin Hood to win and hit the most 180s at 5/61.84. 

Rock and Rydz to put on a show

Josh Rock arrived at Ally Pally as one of the tournament favourites this year after reaching blistering heights in a number of tournaments, playing a key role in Northern Ireland's World Cup win, he's reached two finals on the Euro Tour as well as picking up another title on the floor.

He produced his highest ever World Championship average against Joe Comito last time out and has beaten Callan Rydz on this stage before but with both more mature and battle hardened now, I think we'll see a higher quality contest this time around

Something happens for The Riot here at the Alexandra Palace. It doesn't matter what's gone before, he finds a way to deliver here in the biggest tournament of the year. A quarter-finalist here 12 months ago, he had to be very good and answer a lot of questions to get the better of Daryl Gurney last time out.

I'm expecting a lot of heavy hitting and high scoring from both and am backing 15+ 180s & 2+ bull finishes at 4/15.00. 

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