Darts results: Netherlands and Wales sent packing at World Cup of Darts

By Sporting Life

Darts

Sat June 29, 2024 · 6M ago

Croatia dumped out reigning champions Wales to reach the BetVictor World Cup of Darts quarter-finals for the first time on Saturday, as Italy stunned 2022 winners Australia on a dramatic day in Frankfurt.

The third day of action in the Pairs event saw 16 nations competing across two sessions at the Eissporthalle, as the knockout phase of the tournament began.

Croatia’s Boris Krcmar and Romeo Grbavac caused a major upset with a terrific display, defying a 91 average from Welsh duo Jonny Clayton and Jim Williams to break new ground at the World Cup of Darts.

The unheralded Croatians punished some early profligacy from the number two seeds to seize the initiative, although Clayton and Williams fought back valiantly to level at six apiece.

Nevertheless, after Wales squandered four darts at double for a 7-6 advantage, Grbavac landed successive 84 and 83 combinations to cap off a famous triumph.

CROATIA KO WALES! 🇭🇷

Reigning champions Wales are OUT!

Romeo Grbavac and Boris Krcmar create history for Croatia, as they dump out Jonny Clayton and Jim Williams to reach the quarter-finals for the first time!

📺 https://t.co/nh8y246ePn #WorldCupofDarts | R2 pic.twitter.com/bTMlVCFLde
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) June 29, 2024

“This is beautiful. It’s like a dream,” reflected Croatian trailblazer Krcmar, who landed three 180s in inspiring his side to victory.

“I know that we can beat anybody, but this is a big moment for Croatia and Croatian darts and we’re very happy.”

“This is a very good feeling,” added Grbavac, who will compete in his first PDC televised quarter-final on Sunday.

“This is the biggest win of my career. Boris believed in me, and I believed in him. I’m very happy for me, Boris and all the Croatian people.”

Belgium oust Dutch rivals

However, it was former finalists Belgium who produced the performance of the day, defying six 180s and a ton-plus average from Dutch duo Michael van Gerwen and Danny Noppert to storm into the last eight.

Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts dumped out Noppert and Dirk van Duijvenbode at the same stage of last year’s event, and they repeated the feat with an inspired display of finishing.

Huybrechts was the star of the show in the opening exchanges, following up an 89 kill with 129 and 121 outshots on the bull, before Van den Bergh sank a classy 86 finish to continue their charge.

Van Gerwen and Noppert scored superbly but struggled on the outer ring, and they paid a heavy price as the fifth seeds powered to a crushing 8-2 victory.

“We didn’t give them a chance. We were in total control,” declared Huybrechts, a runner-up with his brother Ronny back in 2013.

“I always say to Dimitri: ‘If we do our own thing, we are very dangerous. Tonight was a complete performance!”

Belgium will now play Italy for a place in the semi-finals, after Michele Turetta and Massimo Dalla Rosa won through an extraordinary last-leg decider against 2022 champions Australia.

The Italian duo survived six match darts in an epic finale, as Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock crashed out at the last 16 stage for the first time as a partnership.

“This is very emotional. We have worked hard to arrive here, so it’s unbelievable feeling,” reflected Turetta, who became the first Italian player to win a PDC Tour Card earlier this year.

“We know that every darts fan in Italy will be having a big party tonight, but we are still pushing to improve.”

England remain quietly on course

Elsewhere, England began their bid for a record-breaking fifth World Cup crown with an 8-3 demolition of 2023 quarter-finalists France, as world champion Luke Humphries made a winning start on his World Cup debut.

Despite Humphries’ status as world number one, it was Michael Smith who adopted the captain’s role for the top seeds, who recovered from a sluggish start to sweep aside Thibault Tricole and Jacques Labre.

France capitalised on some early profligacy from the decorated duo to establish a 2-1 lead, although Humphries and Smith soon found their feet, winning seven of the next eight legs to cap off a resounding win.

“Michael was fantastic tonight. I wasn’t at my best, but you’re not usually going to average 110 in the first round,” admitted Humphries, who is confident of an improved showing on Finals Day.

“We’re back again tomorrow which is all that matters, and if we start playing like we can, we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

“We’re going to keep the same regime tomorrow. We will play our own game, and we believe we can win, which is the most important thing in winning big titles.”

“It’s lucky I’ve got a partner innit!” 😮‍💨

Relief for Luke Humphries and Team England! pic.twitter.com/muYO1wZHhp
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) June 29, 2024

England’s reward is an enthralling quarter-final showdown against sixth seeds Northern Ireland, as Josh Rock and Brendan Dolan defied a late onslaught to deny hosts Germany in a deciding-leg thriller.

Martin Schindler landed a brace of ton-plus checkouts as Germany threatened to overturn a 7-4 deficit, until Rock sealed Northern Ireland’s progress with a 15-dart hold in the decider.

“When you’re against the host nation it’s always going to be tough,” reflected Rock, who crashed in four 180s and a 177 in a high-scoring display.

“Tonight was a major test," continued Dolan, one of four World Cup ever-presents. “Josh was absolutely superb there and I love him to bits for carrying me, but I will turn up at some point.”