Mixed Opening Night For Asian Nations at World Cup of Darts

The opening night clashes produced eye catching displays from a pair of Asian nations to burnish their title credentials at the BetVictor World Cup of Darts, as also tasted victory in Frankfurt last night.

The group stage of the 40-nation event saw the opening 12 matches take place at the Eissporthalle, with Republic of Ireland, Austria and Poland among the other high-profile winners.

There was success for two Asian nations on Thursday evening, as last year’s quarter-finalists Hong Kong and 2019 semi-finalists Japan celebrated significant victories at the Eissporthalle.

Man Lok Leung and Lok Yin Lee continued their World Cup love-affair with a 4-2 win over Belgium in Group B, after defying a late fightback from Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh.

Hong Kong raced into a commanding 3-0 lead, and although De Decker – who averaged 106 in defeat – inspired a spirited revival from the Belgians, Hong Kong fired in a timely 14-dart hold to triumph.

Meanwhile, Japanese duo Motomu Sakai and Haruki Muramatsu fought back brilliantly to defeat Croatia 4-3 in a high-quality Group K encounter, converting 80% of their attempts at double to prevail.

Muramatsu (pictured) produced three clinical finishes – including a skin-saving 81 on the bull in the penultimate leg – before Sakai landed a timely maximum and pinned double 12 to seal victory with a 13-darter.

2019 finalists Republic of Ireland threw a wet blankett over the Asian sides bandwagon and defeated a spirited Singapore in Group D, as World Cup ever-present William O’Connor and Mickey Mansell took a huge step towards reaching the knockout stages.

Singapore – captained by 72-year-old icon Paul Lim – took an early lead courtesy of a sublime 170 checkout from Phuay Wei Tan, only for the Irish duo to respond with a four-leg flurry in the latter stages.

China had earlier fallen short as Mensur Suljovic – one of two ever-presents in this year’s field – steered two-time runners-up Austria to a winning start in Group I, as Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez averaged 97 in a 4-1 win.

The losing nations from Thursday’s opening games will play the third team from each group on Friday afternoon, before the decisive final group games are contested in a bumper evening session.

Following the conclusion of the group stage, the draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday evening, as the top four seeds England, Netherlands, Northern Ireland and Scotland enter the fray in round two on Saturday.