Date/Time
Date(s) - June 30, 2024 - July 5, 2024
12:00 am
Categories No Categories
The 2024 BetVictor World Cup of Darts live streams continues on Friday, as the Group Stage draws to a close during an action-packed double session in Frankfurt. Host nation Germany raised the roof at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle with a thrilling win over New Zealand as the BetVictor World Cup of Darts began on Thursday, as 2022 champions Australia narrowly avoided a huge upset.
Following Thursday’s opening round-robin ties, the losing nations from last night will play the third team from each group in Friday’s afternoon session, before the decisive final group games are played on Friday evening.
The 14th staging of the World Cup of Darts will take place at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt from June 27-30, with group and knockout stages featuring Doubles matches throughout the pairs event.
A miss at the bull for a 4-2 win allowed Damon Heta to force a decider, and three further chances went begging before Whitlock took out 87 to snatch victory and begin Australia’s challenge for a second title in three years.
Belgium’s Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts defied checkouts of 151 and 110 from Singapore’s 70-year-old veteran Paul Lim before the 2013 finalists took a 4-2 win in their Group A opener, finishing four doubles from seven attempts.
Josh Rock – a European Tour event winner recently – enjoyed a strong World Cup debut alongside Brendan Dolan as Northern Ireland averaged almost 95 in a 4-1 win over South Africa, who now face a crucial Group B clash with Switzerland on Friday afternoon.
Sweden produced an outstanding display in the tournament’s opening fixture, as Jeffrey de Graaf and Oskar Lukasiak averaged 98.56 and hit four doubles from five attempts to whitewash Spain in Group K.
England, Wales, Netherlands and Scotland – the top four ranked nations based on lowest cumulative PDC Order of Merit ranking – will enter the tournament in Saturday’s second round.
The remaining 36 nations have been split into 12 groups of three for the round-robin phase – including 12 seeded nations – from which each group winner will progress.
Reigning champions Wales will be led by two-time winner Jonny Clayton and debutant Jim Williams, who is drafted in as a late replacement for Gerwyn Price, who has been ruled out due to health issues.
Singapore have a penchant for causing surprises, having beaten third seeds Wales in 2019 and top seeds Scotland in 2017, but fell just short as they lost 4-2 to the Belgian team.
But it’s safe to say the performance of Lim stole the show as he secured the first leg of the match with a very impressive checkout of 151, throwing a treble 19, treble 18 and double 20.
“I feel really sorry for Gezzy, but it’s a big opportunity for me,” reflected Williams, the world number 44 who will take time away from his joinery business to compete in Frankfurt.
“I’m not going to try and fill Gezzy’s shoes, because there’s probably not a player in the world that can replace a player like him.
“I’m just going to do my own thing and play my game. I’ve not played too much competitive darts this year, so to get this chance on the big stage is great.
“Representing your country is always an amazing honour, and it will be great to partner Jonny. If we were to win the title, nothing would probably come close to that [in my career so far].”
World number one Luke Humphries will spearhead England’s title challenge in Frankfurt, as the top seeds eye a record fifth World Cup of Darts crown – and a first since 2016.
The World Champion will make his debut in the unique pairs event alongside world number three Michael Smith, who is making a fifth World Cup appearance in six years.
Michael van Gerwen will make his return for four-time champions Netherlands, as he teams up with former UK Open champion Danny Noppert for the first time since 2020.
Elsewhere, Peter Wright and Gary Anderson will renew their partnership for two-time champions Scotland, and Wright is relishing his return to the Eissporthalle.
Croatia’s Boris Krcmar and Romeo Grbavac were also in ruthless mood as they denied Malaysia a dart at a double in their Group I opener, averaging over 92 in the process.
Austria’s Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez, who reached the 2021 final, made a confident start in Group F, whitewashing China with four doubles from seven attempts.
Portugal’s Jose de Sousa and debutant David Gomes opened Group L with a win over America, with Jules van Dongen and Danny Lauby now facing a must-win tie with Italy to keep their hopes alive.
Poland opened Group G with a 4-2 defeat of Norway, with Republic of Ireland seeing off Lithuania by the same scoreline in Group E.
The 12 group winners will advance to the knockout stage, and following the conclusion of the round-robin phase, the draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday evening, as England, Wales, Netherlands and Scotland enter the fray in the second round.
France – who were quarter-finalists for the first time last year – overcame Latvia 4-1 as Thibault Tricole and Jacques Labre averaged 95 and took out finishes of 93, 95 and 80 in Group J.
Czechia’s Adam Gawlas and Karel Sedlacek edged out Bahrain 4-3 in their Group H opener, with Iceland awaiting the duo on Friday.
The losing nations from Thursday’s opening games will play the third team from each group in Friday’s afternoon session, before the decisive final group games are played on Friday evening. Following the conclusion of the round-robin phase, the draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday evening, as England, Wales, Netherlands and Scotland enter the fray in the second round stage.
