Day two’s afternoon session at the 2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts didn’t disappoint. With another dozen nations making their tournament bow, there was drama, quality, and the occasional double trouble sprinkled across Frankfurt. From darting legends still throwing at 71 to deadly debutants there was plenty to admire – and plenty still to play for.
LITHUANIA 4-3 FRANCE (G)
After the walk-on was sound-tracked by the Tears For Fears belter Everybody Wants to Rule the World, it quickly became clear that neither of these teams would be ruling much of anything.
Lithuania needed to win without conceding two legs to stand any chance of progressing. They didn’t – and despite signing off with a win, they’re the first nation this year to be eliminated.
Looking like a French Right Said Fred tribute act, the regular pairing of Thibault Tricole and Jacques Labre have now made life far more difficult for themselves than it could have been. Their defeat means tonight’s opponents, Sweden, can afford to lose – so long as they win at least three legs. France will need to seriously raise their game for that one – if they produce another display like this one, the Scandinavians will stroll into the knockout stages.
CHINESE TAIPEI 4-2 INDIA (J)
Whilst India might be renowned for its wonderfully popular cuisine, there wasn’t much to dine out on from their performance. Captain Nitin Kumar is a much better player than he showed here and will be hoping to prove that later tonight.
As for Chinese Taipei, they really should have wrapped this up 4–0 and been off the stage far quicker than they were. Three legs up and cruising, Teng Lieh Pupo needed 38 to win but bizarrely opted to start with single one. Needless to say, he made a right mess of it, and a comical debate followed between him and his less-than-impressed partner, An-Sheng Lu. The chemistry between the pair turned noticeably frosty after India pulled it back to 3–2.
Thankfully, Chinese Taipei did manage to get over the line – just as well, because it could’ve got properly heated between the duo. That result now leaves the Czech lads needing to beat India to qualify. And quite frankly, that seems incredibly unlikely.
CROATIA 4-3 SWITZERLAND (K)
It proved to be a real battle between the two European sides, with the Croats just edging it to keep their fire burning. After Big Boris helped forge a 2–0 lead, the Swiss battled back strongly to take the contest all the way to a last-leg decider. This was one for the darting purists, though it’s still a mystery how Switzerland – averaging somewhere around the mid-70s – managed to take it that far. Still, they did, and it keeps what was always a tight-looking group wide open.
For the other nation in this section, Japan, the maths is simple: beat the Swiss to go through. If they don’t, all three countries will finish with one win apiece, and it’ll come down to leg difference. We can leave Mark Webster to offer the permutation scenarios later on comms. He’s good at that kind of thing.
GIBRALTAR 4-2 CHINA (D)
Another clash that did little to showcase just how good this quartet really is. After the opening four legs went with throw, the Gibraltar lads broke the Chinese throw and – in a leg that lasted about as long as a Hollyoaks omnibus – scraped their way to victory.
China still have a shot at qualifying, but they’ll need to hit top gear tonight because the Irish boys looked strong on opening day. By my reckoning, the Emerald Islanders only need three legs – not the full four – to go through. And unless the Asian duo suddenly find a few extra gears, you’d fully expect Ireland to get the job done. Gibraltar’s hopes lie with a Chinese win – and then it would depend on the margin of victory. But right now – any of the trio could advance.
CANADA 1-4 DENMARK (F)
The North Americans crashed out after a miserable campaign that had promised much more. Campbell and Long didn’t play badly and even started brightly by taking the opening leg. However, that was as good as it got. In the end, the Danes simply created more chances and were clinical when it mattered.
Both teams ended with averages just shy of 90, but it was the finishing that swung it in favour of the Nordic nation. Denmark now face a straight shoot-out with Malaysia this evening – a winner-takes-all climax to Group F.
USA 4-1 BAHRAIN (I)
Team USA finally gave North America something to smile about, cruising to a comfortable win over Bahrain – who, in their third World Cup appearance, are still waiting for a first victory. If we’re being brutally honest, the standard might have had a few pub lads frantically searching their family trees for any trace of Bahraini grandparents. Although I am sure nerves played a fairly big part.
Let’s call a spade a spade: Danny Lauby and Jules Van Dongen are two very good players – just not right now. Across the match, there were 33 attempts at doubles… and only five found the mark. That pretty much tells the story. I’d be stunned if Bahrain get any change out of Hong Kong later, but stranger things have happened. Still, unless something dramatic and frankly miraculous unfolds, this group looks all but done. One thing’s for sure: the West Asian boys will need a lot more than a 53 average – and hitting a few doubles wouldn’t hurt, either.
SOUTH AFRICA 4-1 NORWAY (E)
Dancing Dev and his countryman Cameron Carolissen kept Africa’s hopes alive, and now they must hope Norway can do them a favour against Poland later. Man mountain Cor Dekker – who probably spends a lot of time ducking through doorframes – was nowhere near the heights his physical stature might suggest. It was left to teammate Kent Jøran Sivertsen to carry the fight for the Scandinavians, but in the end, the duo were left to rue their outer ring precision and now bow out of the tournament. Not even a whitewash over Poland would be enough now.
Carolissen – another who looked like he’d raided Pat Butcher’s earring collection – was encouraged every step of the way by his captain and in the end, South Africa were deserved winners. The ball remains firmly in Poland’s court, though, and you’d expect them to get the job done against a Norwegian side now playing purely for pride.
LATVIA 1-4 PHILIPPINES (B)
Lourence Ilagan and Paolo Nebrida put on a strong display to end Latvia’s hopes of progressing any further. Valters Melderis produced an excellent 112 checkout to give the Baltic nation an early 2–1 lead, but from that point on, it was one-way traffic as the Filipinos romped to victory without further concession.
That’s half the job done for Team Philippines – now they just need to beat the three-time PDC major champion duo representing Belgium to book their spot in the knockout stages. A tall order, but the Asians have the pedigree. That said, if Mike and Dimi deliver what we all expect this evening, it should be more than enough.
ITALY 4-0 HUNGARY (A)
It was a superb whitewash win for the Azzurri, storming to a 4–0 triumph over the Hungarians, who simply couldn’t hit a double. They had eight attempts – and missed every single one. Had they landed just a couple, it might have been a very different story.
You’d be hard-pressed to see how the Eastern Europeans could put a dent in the Dutch. Hypothetically, a maximum win for Hungary would leave every nation tied on points and leg difference. Realistically, that’s not going to happen – unless Noppert and Van Veen have an absolute shocker. And judging by yesterday’s devastating display, that’s highly unlikely. Especially considering the boys in orange only need a single leg to go through. You could put your mortgage on them sailing into the last 16. Just don’t blame me if you do precisely that – and end up homeless.
PORTUGAL 2-4 SINGAPORE (C)
Inspired by the legendary Paul Lim, Singapore sent the Portuguese packing with an excellent display. Most 71-year-olds spend their days relaxing, down the bowling green, or pottering around in the garden – not Paul Lim. He’s still chucking at a seriously high level and once again led the line superbly for his country.
The Special One did his best, but with all due respect to his previous partners, they’ve not exactly been up to the standard needed to back him up. Later this evening promises to be an intriguing one, as Singapore take a shot at the hosts, Germany, to decide who advances from Group C.
SPAIN 0-4 AUSTRALIA (H)
The familiar pairing of Heta and Whitlock brushed off the Spanish challenge without breaking a sweat—knocking in a highly respectable average around the ton mark in the process. As if the word Australia emblazoned across their green and gold shirts wasn’t enough, the boys from Down Under completed the look with the stereotypical cork hats – yes, the ones with strings dangling down – to crank up the Aussie factor even further.
But beneath the novelty gear was a seriously deadly performance from the Antipodeans, who simply had too much for their European opponents. Spain bow out, while Australia now face a straight shoot-out with Austria later to determine who finishes top of the group.
FINLAND 1-4 ARGENTINA (L)
The sole tournament debutants, Argentina, proved they’re not just handy with a football – they’re pretty tasty with tungsten too. Kitted out in shirts reminiscent of their national soccer team (thankfully minus the shorts), they set the tone with a maximum on their very first visit to the oche.
All in all, it was an incredibly impressive debut from the South Americans, who’ve taken to the World Cup of Darts like a couple of ducks to water. As for the Finns, they bow out disappointed – no points, and just a single leg to show for their efforts. If the Argentinians can reproduce that kind of display later, New Zealand will have a real job on their hands to reach the knockouts. Two nations – one spot up for grabs.
With some nations already booking early flights home and others clinging to leg difference and unlikely miracles, the group stage has begun to take shape. A few heavyweights flexed their muscles, while newcomers like Argentina threw their names into the mix with swagger. The calculators may need dusting off tonight as qualification permutations start to swirl, but one thing’s for sure – if the standard continues to rise, we’re in for one hell of a weekend in Deutschland.
—–ENDS—–
Images: Jenny Segers
