World Cup of Darts results: Paul Lim and stun Gerwyn Price's Wales on opening night

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The Singapore Slingers, who stunned Scotland's Gary Anderson and Peter Wright in the opening round two years ago and then gave England a real scare in 2018, repeated the trick against the highly-fancied Welsh pairing of Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton.

The ever-popular Paul Lim, who turned pro almost 40 years ago, reminded us all why his age of 65 is just an ageless number during the 5-3 triumph but it was down to Harith to hit the winning double in the eighth leg with his last dart in hand.

After coming back from 2-1 down, they averaged 92.51 compared to their higher profile opponents, who could only record a mark of 83.22 as they missed 14 attempts at double.

Clayton had missed a dart at double 16 in the previous visit to send the first-round clash to a decider and Harith just about held his nerve to set up a clash with Japan on Saturday after the pairing of Seigo Asada and Haruki Muramatsu beat Gibraltar's Dyson Parody and Antony Lopez 5-4.

Paul Lim, who is the oldest player in the tournament, said: "It was a great game and we're so happy to win. Both sides missed some doubles but we managed to hit five good legs."

Singapore will face Japan in round two on Saturday, and Lim added: "We will take one game at a time and can't underestimate any team. We know the Japanese guys well from the Asian Tour and we'll do our best."

South Africa also caused a huge upset as they stunned sixth seeds Northern Ireland, with Devon Petersen raising the roof with a 180 and a 74 checkout in the deciding leg.

Daryl Gurney and Brendan Dolan were heavy favourites for victory but were sent packing by Petersen and his debutant partner Vernon Bouwers.

"It's a brilliant win but I think in the end we deserved it too," said Petersen. "We knew what we were up against but the pairs match is different because they don't have the same rhythm.

"Vernon showed his class early on and kept us in the game and in the last leg I knew that I needed to step forward.

"It's phenomenal for us, not just for us as individuals but for darts in Africa. It shows that we can progress the sport in Africa now."

Newcomer Bouwers, who won the Last Man Standing event earlier this year and also hails from Mitchell's Plain, admitted: "I've been watching these guys on TV so it's amazing to beat them - but it was nerve-wracking!"

There were no scares for Scottish dream duo of Anderson and Wright, who were runners-up to the Netherlands 12 months ago, as they thrashed Denmark 5-0.

They averaged a combined 101 and hit five of their eight darts at double in a classy display which lays down a marker to their title rivals.

It was Anderson's second appearance on TV for only the second time since the World Championship having struggled with a back injury for much of the season so far but it was like he'd never been away as the pair restricted Per Laursen and Niels Heinsøe to just one dart at a double.

"It's good to be back and I'm enjoying it," said Anderson. "We don't play pairs very often so it's hard to get into a rhythm but we got through. The darts are going well in practice so we'll see what happens this weekend."

Scotland will now meet Sweden, who came from a leg down to power past Brazil with a 5-1 win, with Dennis Nilsson helping to ensure that Magnus Caris' final tournament would not end in the first round in Hamburg.

"Playing with Dennis is a pleasure and when he hit the 141 I felt that we would win," said Caris. "He hit some good doubles and I'm thrilled that I can play again on Saturday."

Home favourites Germany cruised into the second round with a 5-1 victory but their life was made easy by a poor performance from their Hungarian opponents.

Max Hopp and Martin Schindler, who hit a superb 137 checkout, only averaged 87 and missed 11 darts at doubles but it was still a lot higher than Pal Szekely and Janos Vegso's mark of 74, which earned them just four attempts at a finish.

The Germans have reached the quarter-finals for the past two years, and Schindler said: "It was not easy for us and it was difficult in the beginning but we got through it so we're happy."

Belgium, represented by Dimitri van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts, are one of the dark horses for this tournament and they wasted little time in defeating Hong Kong 5-1 to set up a clash with Germany.

Royden Lam took out a 141 finish in leg two to level the scores but was as good as it got for Hong Kong as Van den Bergh sealed victory with a 136 checkout.

"We're very happy with that because the first round is never easy and I think we did well," said Huybrechts. "This is a special tournament and it's a tournament that brings the best out of you.

"Other teams might be favourites, but as a pair we can match anyone. If we play like we can then we have a great chance."

New Zealand set up a clash with South Africa after Cody Harris and Haupai Puha defeated debutants Lithuania 5-1 to get their nation into the last 16 for the first time since 2015.

Harris showed the experience he has gained competing on the PDC circuit for the past 18 months with an early 110 finish as New Zealand moved into a 4-0 lead.

Darius Labanauskas took out 100 to get Lithuania off the mark in leg five, but Harris sealed victory for his country with as a 124 checkout as New Zealand reached the last 16 for the first time since 2015.

"We're so happy to win," said Auckland's Harris. "I'm glad we got through and it was a great night for us.

"Playing over here with all these top players has helped my consistency. We can't wait to play South Africa now - all the teams are really good and on the day it's anyone's game."

The first round concludes on Friday at Hamburg's Barclaycard Arena with the remaining eight first round ties.

Reigning champions Netherlands begin their title defence as World Champion Michael van Gerwen and debutant Jermaine Wattimena play Spain's Cristo Reyes and Toni Alcinas.

Four-time champions England play the Philippines, while former finalists Australia play Finland and Austria take on Russia amongst the other ties.

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World Cup of Darts: Thursday results and schedule

Thursday June 6
(7pm local time, 6pm BST)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
First Round (Best of nine legs - doubles)

• Gibraltar 4-5 Japan
• Northern Ireland 4-5 South Africa
• New Zealand 5-1 Lithuania
• Belgium 5-1 Hong Kong
• Brazil 1-5 Sweden
• Wales 3-5 Singapore
• Hungary 1-5 Germany
• Scotland 5-0 Denmark

Friday June 7 (7pm local time, 6pm BST)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
First Round (Best of nine legs - doubles)

• China v USA
• Italy v Canada
• Poland v Czech Republic
• Republic of Ireland v Greece
• England v Philippines
• Austria v Russia
• Australia v Finland
• Netherlands v Spain

Saturday June 8
Afternoon Session (1.30pm local time, 12.30pm BST)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of 3 points)
(Two best-of-7-leg singles matches & one best of 7 doubles decider if required)

• Four Matches

Evening Session (7pm local time, 6pm BST)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of 3 points)
(2x best-of-7-leg singles matches & one best-of-7-leg doubles decider if required)

• Four Matches

Sunday June 9
Afternoon Session (1pm local time, 12pm BST)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-Finals (Best of 3 points)
(2x best-of-7-leg singles matches & one best-of-7-leg doubles decider if required)

• Four Matches

Evening Session (7pm local time, 6pm BST)
Semi-Finals (Best of 3 points)
(2x best-of-7-leg singles matches & one best-of-7-leg doubles decider if required)

• Two Matches

Final (Best of 5 points)
(2x best-of-7-leg singles matches, one best-of-7-leg doubles, then reverse singles)

• Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2

CLICK HERE FOR FULL TOURNAMENT GUIDE INCLUDING DRAW & TEAM LINE-UPS

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