A Winning Start to 2026: Ten Winners Across Football, Darts & Horse Racing

A fantastic start to 2026. The team found value across football, darts and horse racing over the New Year weekend, delivering ten winners spanning Pre-Match Football, In-Play Elite and All Sports coverage. From Luke Littler making history at Alexandra Palace to late drama at the Etihad and AFCON knockout football in Morocco, here's how it all unfolded.

Luke Littler Rewrites the Record Books

Alexandra Palace witnessed history on Friday night as Luke Littler became the youngest player to win back-to-back PDC World Championship titles. At just 18 years old, the Warrington sensation dismantled Gian van Veen 7-1 in a final that lasted barely 43 minutes, collecting a record-breaking £1 million winner's cheque in the process.

It capped a remarkable tournament run that saw Littler reach his third consecutive World Championship final, having burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old in 2024 before claiming his maiden title last January. Only Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson had previously retained the trophy, and Littler now sits alongside them having barely turned 18.

The final itself was a masterclass. Van Veen took the opening set with a 116 checkout, offering brief hope of a competitive contest. What followed was utter domination. Littler reeled off seven consecutive sets, averaging 106.02 and landing 16 maximums compared to Van Veen's five. He sealed victory with a magnificent 147 checkout, T20-T17-D15, before breaking down in tears on stage.

Our All Sports coverage was locked in from the semi-finals onwards, landing three winners across Littler's path to glory.

Semi-Final: 170 Checkout at 9/4

Littler faced Ryan Searle in the last four, and while the match itself was comfortable, we identified value on Either Player to Hit a 170 Checkout. The maximum checkout is darts' equivalent of a hole-in-one, requiring treble 20, treble 20 and bullseye in succession. Littler obliged in the third set, sending Alexandra Palace into raptures and landing our selection.

Semi-Final: Bet Builder at 11/10

We also sent through a Bet Builder combining Littler -2.5 Sets Handicap, Over 7.5 Total Sets, and Van Veen Not to Hit a 180 in Every Set. The logic was straightforward: Littler's superiority would show in the handicap, but Van Veen's route through Gary Anderson suggested enough resistance for the sets total. All three legs landed as Littler cruised through 6-1 with Van Veen failing to hit a maximum in multiple sets.

Final: Win & Most 180s at EVS

For the final itself, the selection was Littler to Win the Match and Hit Most 180s. Given his 180 rate throughout the tournament and Van Veen's relative inexperience on the biggest stage, the even money price represented clear value. Littler's 16 maximums to Van Veen's five made it comfortable, and the 7-1 scoreline matched Phil Taylor's 2009 demolition of Raymond van Barneveld as the most one-sided final in 15 years.

Three darts selections across the semi-finals and final. Three winners. A fitting tribute to a generational talent making history.

Etihad Drama: Chelsea in Crisis, Our Analysis on Point

If the darts delivered historic excellence, Saturday's Premier League action at the Etihad served up pure chaos. Manchester City hosted a Chelsea side in freefall, with the visitors arriving without a permanent manager after Enzo Maresca departed by mutual consent on New Year's Day.

The Italian's exit came after 18 months in charge, a tenure that included the Conference League and Club World Cup trophies but ultimately collapsed amid disputes with the board and mounting fan frustration. His final match, a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on December 30th, saw supporters boo and chant "you don't know what you're doing" when he substituted Cole Palmer. Three days later, he was gone.

Caretaker Calum McFarlane, Chelsea's Under-21s coach, found himself in the dugout at the Etihad for the biggest assignment of his career. City, six points behind Arsenal with a game in hand, needed the win. Chelsea, sitting 11th and reeling from their managerial implosion, needed anything they could get.

Tijjani Reijnders gave City the lead on 42 minutes, collecting a loose ball from a blocked Cherki pass and firing left-footed into the roof of the net. It looked like being enough. Chelsea created little, City controlled the game, and the clock ticked past 90 minutes with Pep Guardiola's side heading for three points.

Then came the 94th minute. Malo Gusto's cross found Enzo Fernández at the back post. His first effort was saved by Donnarumma, but the Argentine reacted fastest to bundle home the rebound. Pandemonium in the away end. A point snatched from nowhere. Chelsea's World Cup winning midfielder celebrating wildly before collecting a booking for his troubles.

Our coverage landed on both sides of the drama.

In-Play: Reece James Booking at 10/3

Chelsea's captain has developed a reputation for collecting cards in big games, and the circumstances of this fixture only heightened the likelihood. A team in crisis, an interim manager, the pressure of the Etihad. When the In-Play Elite signal came through on Reece James to be Booked, the rationale was clear.

James picked up his yellow card in the 52nd minute for a foul on Rayan Cherki, a cynical trip to halt a City counter-attack. The selection landed with nearly 40 minutes still to play.

Members following through Stakemate saw the same selection at 3/1, with one member's £150 stake returning £600.

Pre-Match: Enzo Fernández 2+ Shots on Target at 15/2

Before kick-off, our Pre-Match Football analysis identified value on Enzo Fernández to have 2+ Shots on Target. The Argentine's attacking involvement has increased significantly this season, with his six league goals already matching his entire 2024/25 total. Only Cole Palmer has more goal involvements for Chelsea since the start of last season.

The selection required two shots on target. Fernández delivered three, including the all-important equaliser. From a £5 free bet stake, the return was £37.50, but the real value was identifying the man who would rescue a point for his side before a ball was kicked.

Two selections on the same game. Both winners. One in-play, one pre-match. When the analysis aligns, the results follow.

Old Firm Collapse: Miovski Booking Lands at the Death

Celtic Park has witnessed some dramatic Old Firm encounters over the years, but few have seen the home side capitulate quite like this. Rangers arrived chasing leaders Hearts, with Celtic looking to close the gap themselves. What unfolded was a stunning collapse that cost manager Wilfried Nancy his job.

Celtic took the lead through Yang Hyun-Jun's 19th minute strike, a brilliant finish into the roof of the net after a one-two with Benjamin Nygren. Despite dominating possession with 65% of the ball and 21 shot attempts to Rangers' nine, Celtic fell apart after the break.

Youssef Chermiti equalised in the 50th minute, then nine minutes later robbed Anthony Ralston on the touchline before driving past Kasper Schmeichel to make it 2-1. Teenager Mikey Moore sealed the victory in the 71st minute, prompting Celtic fans to stream for the exits while chanting "sack the board."

Our In-Play Elite coverage identified late value as Rangers saw the game out.

Bojan Miovski Booking at 6/1

With Rangers protecting their lead, manager Philippe Clement introduced Bojan Miovski as a 90+2' substitute for the goalscorer Chermiti. Fresh legs, tired opponents, and a striker known for his physical approach. The signal came through on Miovski to be Booked.

Within moments of entering the pitch, Miovski flew into a challenge that earned him an immediate yellow card. Pundit Neil McCann initially thought the challenge bordered on a red, though replays showed it was correctly adjudged. The selection landed in added time, capping a remarkable Old Firm for Rangers.

The result extended Celtic's winless Old Firm streak to five consecutive derbies, their worst run since 2000. Nancy, who had pleaded for patience in pre-match interviews, was sacked after just 33 days in charge, becoming the shortest-serving Celtic manager in modern history.

Villa Surge to Second

The early kick-off on Friday saw Aston Villa return to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest, bouncing back emphatically from their 4-1 defeat at Arsenal. Unai Emery's side climbed to second in the Premier League, extending their remarkable home record to 11 consecutive wins at Villa Park.

Ollie Watkins broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time with an emphatic strike from outside the box, his fourth goal in three games. John McGinn doubled the lead four minutes into the second half, side-footing home from Matty Cash's cross, before Morgan Gibbs-White pulled one back for Forest with a delicate chip over Emiliano Martinez.

The visitors' hopes of a comeback were extinguished by their own goalkeeper. John Victor committed a catastrophic error in the 73rd minute, racing 35 yards from goal to challenge McGinn on a long Tielemans pass. The Scotland captain calmly collected and curled into the empty net from distance. Victor left the field injured shortly after, his afternoon complete.

Gibbs-White Over 1.5 Shots on Target at 6/1

Our In-Play Elite analysis had identified Forest's creative spark as the source of value. Morgan Gibbs-White Over 1.5 Shots on Target was the selection, recognising the midfielder's tendency to shoot when his side are chasing games.

Gibbs-White finished with two shots on target from two attempts, including his consolation goal. It was his fourth league goal of the season and his first in eight outings. The selection landed comfortably, demonstrating how our in-play analysis identifies players likely to take on shooting responsibility when game states shift.

Strategic Risk Storms to Victory at Oaklawn

Our All Sports coverage extended across the Atlantic, where the Kentucky Derby trail began in earnest at Oaklawn Park. The $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes attracted a competitive field of three-year-olds looking to earn qualifying points for the first Saturday in May.

Strategic Risk had shown promise in his previous starts, but this represented a step up in class. Trainer Mark Casse had the colt primed, and jockey Javier Castellano delivered a perfectly judged ride.

Tracking pacesetter Scar Ship through fractions of :24.48, :49.72 and 1:14.99, Strategic Risk made his move entering the stretch. The Noble Bird colt drew clear to win by four and a half lengths in a time of 1:45.06, earning 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points in the process.

Stablemate Silent Tactic completed a 1-2 finish for the Casse barn at 14-1, with 84-1 longshot Baytown Dreamer third. Owner John Oxley, who previously won the 2001 Kentucky Derby with Monarchos, now has a live contender for this year's Run for the Roses. Strategic Risk's next target is the $1 million Southwest Stakes on January 31st at Oaklawn.

AFCON Extra Time Drama: Egypt vs Benin Cards Land

While the Premier League action dominated Saturday, Monday's AFCON Round of 16 provided one more winner to close out the weekend. Egypt faced Benin in Agadir with a place in the quarter-finals on the line, and what unfolded was a classic knockout tie.

After a goalless first half, Marwan Attia gave Egypt the lead in the second half. The Pharaohs looked set for a comfortable passage until Jodel Dossou's late equaliser forced extra time. With both teams chasing a place in the last eight, the additional 30 minutes delivered exactly the kind of fractious, card-heavy football our In-Play Elite analysis anticipated.

Egypt eventually prevailed 3-1 with goals from Yasser Ibrahim and Mohamed Salah in extra time, booking their place in the quarter-finals for the 21st time in their history. But our selection had already landed well before the final whistle.

Over 2.5 Extra Time Cards at 21/10

With the game heading to extra time after Dossou's equaliser, the In-Play Elite signal came through on Over 2.5 Extra Time Total Cards. The logic was straightforward: knockout football, tired legs, desperation from Benin, and Egypt pushing for the winner. Cards were inevitable.

The selection landed comfortably as the referee reached for his pocket multiple times across the additional 30 minutes.

Weekend Summary

What's Next

The Premier League returns with a full midweek schedule, and there's no shortage of intrigue.

Two of England's biggest clubs head into the week without permanent managers. Manchester United travel to Burnley on Wednesday with Darren Fletcher in interim charge, just 48 hours after Ruben Amorim's departure following his explosive post-match comments at Leeds. The Portuguese leaves with the worst points-per-game ratio of any United manager in the Premier League era. Chelsea, meanwhile, face Fulham at Craven Cottage still searching for Enzo Maresca's successor after the Italian left by mutual consent on New Year's Day.

The headline fixture arrives on Thursday when Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates. The Gunners lead the table by six points, while Liverpool's title defence has collapsed spectacularly, with Arne Slot's side winning just one of their last six league games. A defeat for Liverpool would effectively end their hopes of retaining the crown.

Elsewhere, Newcastle welcome Leeds to St James' Park in a clash between two of the promoted sides' fiercest rivals, Aston Villa look to maintain their push for the title at Crystal Palace, and Thomas Frank takes his Tottenham side to Bournemouth looking to build on their unbeaten start to the year.

Pre-Match Football, In-Play Elite and All Sports coverage continues across all fixtures.