Caribbean nation Trinidad & Tobago are poised to make a landmark debut on the PDC World Cup of Darts stage this summer, marking a significant and long-awaited milestone for the sport’s continued global expansion.
The heroic pairing of Joshua Balfour and James Walkin were nothing short of sensational in sealing their passage to the prestigious tournament in Germany, producing a breath-taking sequence of performances at the CDLC qualifier in Panama City.
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Displaying composure, precision, and an unshakeable belief, the duo announced themselves as a formidable emerging force within the international darts landscape.
Their campaign began in emphatic fashion, as they surged through the group stage with ruthless efficiency. Convincing victories over Costa Rica, the Cayman Islands, and hosts Panama showcased both their scoring power and clinical finishing, with the Trinidadian pair surrendering a mere two legs across all three encounters – a statistic that underlined their early dominance.
Advancing into the knockout phase, the Caribbean representatives maintained their relentless momentum. Brazil were dispatched in a comprehensive whitewash before a gripping and emotionally charged contest against Argentina. Facing the accomplished duo of Jesus Salate and Victor Guillin, who had lifted the title the previous year, Balfour and Walkin demonstrated immense resilience to edge a dramatic thriller, toppling one of the pre-tournament favourites in the process.
With confidence surging, Chile became the next casualty as they continued to dismantle South American opposition with authority and composure. That set the stage for a final showdown against the Bahamas, where history was emphatically written. Producing a performance of remarkable clarity and conviction, Balfour and Walkin delivered a resounding 10-1 triumph, sealing qualification in commanding style and securing their nation’s place in Frankfurt.
Their success serves as a powerful testament to the ever-deepening talent pool within global darts, as yet another nation prepares to step onto the sport’s grandest international platform.
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When July arrives, Trinidad & Tobago may well be viewed as outsiders, but they will travel with fearless ambition, unburdened by expectation, and fuelled by the desire to seize every moment of this extraordinary opportunity.
2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts
Competing Nations
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
China
Croatia
Czechia
England
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Hungary
India
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Netherlands
New Zealand
Northern Ireland
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Ireland
Scotland
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
USA
Wales
Qualifiers to confirm final competing nations
PDC Asian Tour Q1 (May 3)
PDC Asian Tour Q2 (May 3)
PDC Asian Tour Q3 (May 3)
PDCNB Nation 5 (April 26)
PDCNB Nation 6 (April 26)
Where It All Began – The Birth of The World Cup of Darts
World Cup of Darts was not without controversy when the Professional Darts Corporation launched it in 2010. Debates about what nations qualified, who played for what side and whether the PDC should cross into this traditional WDF territory were all points of contention.
Barry Hearn had announced an attempt to buy the British Darts Organisation in 2009 but they soon rejected his £1million plus offer.
In a statement, following the BDO’s rejection, the PDC went on to arrange three brand new tournaments for 2010 to help the development of youth and women’s darts under their own banner: the PDC Under-21 World Championship, the PDC Women’s World Championship, and the PDC World Cup of Darts….read the rest
Since that remarkable debut the event has been won by multiple nations and produced many fairytale moments. From Spain’s early run to the final to Paul Lim’s monumental efforts on behalf of Singapore there is almost always a huge upset and often fabulous back stories for the new qualifiers.
WORLD CUP OF DARTS HALL OF FAME – Facts, stats, history and honour roll
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
