MVG Books Netherlands Clash With World Cup Hosts

Netherlands new pairing of Michael Van Gerwen and Gian Van Veen secured their debit win as a pair at the 2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts, on Saturday night in Frankfurt.

MVG and GVV survived a potential banana skin against a spirited Swedish outfit in their opening match as a pair for the Netherlands, winning 8-6 to set-up a quarter-final showdown with Germany.

The Dutch duo stormed to a 3-0 lead, only for Jeffrey de Graaf and Oskar Lukasiak to rattle off four legs straight, with Lukasiak taking out a majestic 155 to take the lead.

Despite a tense middle-game, the world number three and four battled to victory, with three-time World Cup winner Van Gerwen sealing a 15-dart leg to progress to the last eight.

Host nation Germany withstood a stern Czechia fightback to triumph 8-6 and confirm their progression to the quarter-finals.

Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko raced into a 6-1 lead following a profligate start from Karel Sedlacek and Adam Gawlas, yet Czechia’s duo reduced the deficit to 7-6 to threaten an astounding comeback.

However, the German team left 44 after nine darts in the subsequent leg, with Schindler wrapping up an 11-darter to save their best for last and sprint over the finish line.

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.