Howson vs Raman (MODUS Super Series): odds and bets 25.03.2026

This is an interesting MODUS spot because it isn’t a one-off “cup tie” feel — it’s the Super Series rhythm: short races, quick turnarounds and very little time to reset if the doubling goes. On Wednesday 25 March they’re scheduled to meet again in the round-robin rotation, so form in-session and mental recovery matter almost as much as raw ability.

The key factors I’m weighing are first-9 scoring vs double efficiency (the format punishes slow starts), plus the repeat-match dynamic: in this group they can face each other more than once in a day. That tends to favour the player with the steadier baseline rather than the one living off big spurts.

Richie Howson

Howson is one of those players who’s comfortable in streamed league environments: he understands the pace of a race to 4 and he doesn’t panic if a leg turns scrappy. When he gets his rhythm, he can put up very strong numbers, but what I really value with him in MODUS is how often he can win matches without needing to be spectacular every single visit.

In these short formats, I tend to side with players whose “average day” is competitive. Howson’s game usually gives you that: solid first-9 scoring, sensible set-up shots, and a willingness to take pragmatic finishes rather than forcing hero routes. That combination is ideal when legs are decided by two or three key darts at double.

The obvious risk is volatility over a busy session — if his doubling deserts him for 10–15 minutes, you can lose two matches before you’ve even had time to adjust. But overall, if I’m choosing a side here, I trust Howson’s baseline and his ability to grind out legs under pressure.

Brian Raman

Raman’s upside is real. He’s capable of looking like the sharper, more modern scorer in patches, and when he’s flowing he can take legs away quickly — the kind of player who can win a race to 4 without giving you many looks at a double.

The issue in MODUS-style races is consistency from match to match. Raman can swing between very tidy spells and stretches where one or two loose visits leave him chasing. In a longer format you can smooth that out; in first-to-4, a couple of missed doubles and suddenly you’re in a decider before you’ve settled into the match.

What I do like about Raman in this setting is his potential to adjust if these two meet more than once in the same day. If he learns the pace and the finishing patterns early, he can improve quickly. Still, for me the big question is whether his doubling holds when the pressure rises — because Howson will happily take a “messy” leg if Raman leaves the door open.