Super Swedes Earn Netherlands Tie in Knockout Stages

Last years quarter finalists Sweden will be hoping for a repeat showing in the BetVictor World Cup of Darts after reaching the knockout phase once again. The Swedes were among several lower ranked nations to succeed on a bumper day of action in Frankfurt.

The Scandinavian side maintained their 100% record in Group F with a 4-1 thumping of debutants Mongolia, with Jeffrey de Graaf and Oskar Lukasiak sealing top spot at South Africa’s expense.

Day Two of the annual pairs event saw the group stage action conclude at the Eissporthalle.

Four-time champions the Netherlands will open their campaign against the Swedes in an intriguing tussle, as Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen form a new-look partnership for the second seeds.

Friday’s action also saw Joshua Balfour and James Walklin create a slice of darting history for Trinidad and Tobago, rounding off their debut campaign with a landmark deciding-leg victory over Latvia.

However, Madars Razma and Valters Melderis still claimed top spot in Group J via legs difference, courtesy of Italy’s 4-2 victory against Balfour and Walklin on Friday afternoon.

The Latvians will now meet 2023 quarter-finalists France on Saturday afternoon, after Thibault Tricole and Nicolas Thuillier launched a stunning fightback from 3-0 down to dump out two-time runners-up Austria.

Mensur Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez squandered four match darts to secure top spot in Group I, and France duly capitalised, having also emerged through a seven-leg tie against China earlier in the day.

Elsewhere, Norway will feature in the knockout stages for the first time in a decade, as Cor Dekker and Kent Sivertsen overcame Hungary in a straight shoot-out for qualification from Group L.

Following Saturday’s action, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will take place during a bumper double session on Sunday, as the remaining eight nations go head-to-head for World Cup glory.

The 2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts is being broadcast on Sky Sports for viewers in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC’s international broadcast partners, including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV for Rest of the World Subscribers.