DOUBLES WINS FOR AUSTRALIA & CANADA IN BETWAY WORLD CUP OF DARTS
AUSTRALIA and Canada came through Doubles deciders in the Betway World Cup of Darts second round on Saturday, as England, Netherlands and Scotland all booked their quarter-final places in Frankfurt.
2012 finalists Australia were threatened with an upset by Denmark after Per Laursen's 4-2 Singles victory over Kyle Anderson in their last 16 tie took the contest all the way.
However, former European Championship winner Simon Whitlock followed up his narrow 4-3 win over 20-year-old newcomer Daniel Jensen - which he won with a 101 finish - by hitting the winning double in all four legs as Australia whitewashed their rivals in the Doubles contest.
Whitlock's display included two 180s and finishes of 76 and 104 as he propelled the Australians into the last eight.
"It was tough - it could have been easier but they played great," said Whitlock. "I was lucky enough to win my game and Kyle was unlucky in his match but we're good Pairs players.
"I've worked extremely hard and I want to get back up into the top four or five in the world, and my doubles went well tonight."
Australia now meet two-time champions Netherlands in Sunday afternoon's quarter-finals, after Michael van Gerwen overcame Philippines ace Gilbert Ulang 4-2 and Raymond van Barneveld saw off Alex Taragao 4-2 in their second round win, with the latter posting the day's highest individual average of 101.75.
"We did enough to win the game and that's the most important thing," said van Gerwen. "They had a couple of good finishes and did well, but we'll focus on Australia now.
"We're through to tomorrow and we'll get ready for it because we really want to win this title. It's a short format and anything can happen but our strength is the Singles games but we've shown in the past that we can be brilliant in the Pairs too."
Canada won through to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010 with a superb upset against number five seeds Wales.
Three-time World Champion John Part and partner Ken MacNeil thrilled a capacity crowd at Frankfurt's Eissporthalle with a 2-1 win over Welsh pair Mark Webster and Gerwyn Price, as the Canadians edged through.
Part kicked off the game with a 4-2 win over Webster, before Price's fine 4-0 whitewash of MacNeil, which included a brilliant ten-dart finish, sent the tie into the pairs game.
Part showed his class with a 161 finish to help his nation move into a 3-1 lead, and though Wales took the fifth leg to keep their hopes alive it was the sport's greatest ever Canadian who fittingly sealed the win by landing a 180 and a 76 finish.
"I'm lost for words - it's amazing to play with John and we had fun," said MacNeil. "John's a three-time World Champion and he's throwing like it.
"I've got so much belief in this man - he's a legend and he's also my best mate. We're sharing a hotel room and we practice together and we have chemistry, which is a huge thing in this game.
"John's a great commentator but my aim this weekend is to keep him out of the Sky Sports commentary box and playing darts because I think he'd rather play!"
Part added: "Wales are one of the top four nations who've ever played darts, so to take them on and defeat them in a World Cup is special. We knew this was our chance and we did it."
Canada will now face Northern Ireland in the quarter-finals, with Daryl Gurney and Brendan Dolan defeating the Republic of Ireland's William O'Connor and Mick McGowan 2-0.
Gurney produced a strong display as he overcame O'Connor 4-1, before Dolan hit back from 2-1 down against McGowan to claim a 4-2 win and move the former semi-finalists into the last eight.
Reigning champions England raced past China without dropping a leg as Phil Taylor defeated Yuanjun Liu and Adrian Lewis brushed aside Wenge Xie to set up a quarter-final tie with Austria.
"We got the job done but it wasn't easy and these guys might never get an opportunity like this again, so they enjoyed it," said Lewis, a winner alongside Taylor in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
"It's going to be a big day tomorrow so we'll make sure we're right for it. We've got a good chemistry and I think we've got a good chance, and it would be special to win this title again."
Number eight seeds Austria overcame Singapore 2-0 as they impressed, with Mensur Suljovic averaging 101 in his 4-2 defeat of Paul Lim before Rowby-John Rodriguez defeated Harith Lim by the same margin.
2015 finalists Scotland overcame some nervous moments before defeating Norway 2-0, with Gary Anderson twice coming from behind before taking out 160 to win his tie with Cor Dekker before Robert Thornton hit back from 1-0 down against Robert Wagner to take a 4-1 victory.
"Gary took the pressure off me with the 160 and I knew if I could get up there and win we were through," said Thornton. "We play with passion and pride and it will take a good team to beat us.
"The best team will win tomorrow, and we'll look forward to playing and enjoying ourselves."
2013 finalists Belgium also swept into the last eight by seeing off Hungary, as Kim Huybrechts averaged 100 in his fine 4-1 defeat of Nandor Bezzeg before elder brother Ronny came from a leg down against youngster Patrik Kovacs to win by the same scoreline.
The £250,000 tournament concludes on Sunday, with the afternoon session's quarter-finals followed in the evening session by the semi-finals and final.
Watch live on Sky Sports and through the PDC's series of international broadcast partners.
Betway World Cup of Darts
Saturday June 4
Afternoon Session
Second Round x4
Belgium 2-0 Hungary
Northern Ireland 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Wales 1-2 Canada
Austria 2-0 Singapore
Evening Session (8pm local time)
Second Round x4
Scotland 2-0 Norway
Australia 2-1 Denmark
England 2-0 China
Netherlands 2-0 Philippines
Quarter-Final Draw Bracket
England (1) v Austria (8)
Canada v Northern Ireland (4)
Scotland (2) v Belgium (7)
Australia (6) v Netherlands (3)
Betway World Cup of Darts
Sunday June 5
Afternoon Session (2pm local time)
Quarter-Finals Order of Play
Canada v Northern Ireland
England v Austria
Scotland v Belgium
Australia v Netherlands
Evening Session (8pm local time)
Semi-Finals
England/Austria v Canada/Northern Ireland
Scotland/Belgium v Australia/Netherlands
Final
v
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MATCH INFORMATION
Belgium v Hungary
Singles One: Kim Huybrechts v Nandor Bezzeg
1-0 - Bezzeg hits a 180, but Huybrechts finishes double ten to lead.
2-0 - Huybrechts posts a maximum before double 16 moves him two legs up.
3-0 - Huybrechts' superb opening continues with a two-dart 89 finish.
3-1 - Bezzeg takes out 95 on tops to hit back.
4-1 - Huybrechts lands his second 180 before finishing 61 to seal his win.
Averages: Kim Huybrechts 100.71, Nandor Bezzeg 88.43
Singles Two: Ronny Huybrechts v Patrik Kovacs
0-1 - Youngster Kovacs punishes a miss from Huybrechts by landing double ten to lead.
1-1 - Huybrechts takes out 72 on double 12 to level.
2-1 - Double 14 sees Huybrechts hit the front.
3-1 - Huybrechts finishes 120 to move Belgium a leg away from winning the tie.
4-1 - Double top seals victory for Huybrechts and Belgium's place in the quarter-finals.
Averages: Ronny Huybrechts 96.82, Patrik Kovacs 82.42
Doubles: Huybrechts/Huybrechts v Bezzeg/Kovacs
Not Needed
Final Score: Belgium 2-0 Hungary
Northern Ireland v Republic of Ireland
Singles One: Daryl Gurney v William O'Connor
1-0 - Gurney finishes 89 to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Two missed doubles from Gurney allow O'Connor back in as he levels on double three.
2-1 - Gurney takes out 92 on double 16 to regain the lead.
3-1 - Double 18 moves the Northern Irish ace two legs clear.
4-1 - Gurney seals the win with double eight.
Averages: Daryl Gurney 86.41, William O'Connor 75.69
Singles Two: Brendan Dolan v Mick McGowan
1-0 - Double five gives Dolan the opening leg.
1-1 - McGowan finishes 56 on tops to level.
1-2 - McGowan lands double eight to move ahead in the contest.
2-2 - Dolan hits double 16 to square the game again.
3-2 - McGowan misses doubles in two visits, and Dolan returns - after initially wiring the bull to finish 125 with a bull-25-bull combination - to land double four for a break of throw.
4-2 - Dolan finishes 68 to seal the win for Northern Ireland as they move into the last eight.
Averages: Brendan Dolan 80.52, Mick McGowan 76.91
Doubles: Gurney/Dolan v O'Connor/McGowan
Not Needed
Final Score: Northern Ireland 2-0 Republic of Ireland
Wales v Canada
Singles One: Mark Webster v John Part
0-1 - Five missed doubles from Webster allow Part to steal the opening leg on double 16.
1-1 - Part misses two darts at doubles to win a second leg as Webster returns on double two to level.
1-2 - Part opens with a 180 before taking out 48 on double 16.
1-3 - Part finishes 65 on double four to move a leg away from the win.
2-3 - Webster replies by landing double 16.
2-4 - Webster misses two darts at tops to send the game into a decider, and Part lands double eight to seal the win.
Averages: Mark Webster 79.75, John Part 81.19
Singles Two: Gerwyn Price v Ken MacNeil
1-0 - Price makes a sensational start, opening with two 180s before taking out double 18 for a superb ten-dart finish.
2-0 - MacNeil lands a 180 in reply only to miss two doubles as Price returns from three earlier misses on double five.
3-0 - A 60 finish from Price moves him a leg away from the win.
4-0 - A further two missed doubles from MacNeil allow Price to finish 61 on tops to seal a superb win - sending the tie into a Doubles decider.
Averages: Gerwyn Price 95.43, Ken MacNeil 96.70
Doubles: Webster/Price v Part/MacNeil
0-1 - Price misses the bull to finish 170, and MacNeil lands double 16 to break throw.
1-1 - Webster finishes a two-dart 76 checkout to level.
1-2 - Part brings the sell-out Frankfurt crowd to their feet with a superb 161 checkout.
1-3 - Double 12 sees Part move Canada a leg away from triumph.
2-3 - Double six from Price keeps Wales' hopes alive.
2-4 - Part hits a 180 before finishing 76 on tops to secure victory and a quarter-final place for the Canadians.
Averages: Wales 84.38, Canada 92.34
Final Score: Wales 1-2 Canada
Austria v Singapore
Singles One: Mensur Suljovic v Paul Lim
1-0 - Suljovic opens with a 180 and Lim lands a maximum himself, but the Austrian fires in a 174 score before taking out 95 on double 16.
2-0 - Double 14 sees Suljovic break throw to double his lead.
3-0 - Suljovic's fine display continues with a 117 checkout.
3-1 - Lim fires in a 171 to leave 94, with Suljovic responding with a 180 only to see the veteran star take out the combination on double 16 to hit back.
3-2 - Suljovic misses a dart at the bull for the match, and Lim hits double 18 to keep his hopes alive.
4-2 - Suljovic posts his third 180 before a third-dart double nine finally seals the win, as he records the day's highest individual average so far of 101.38.
Averages: Mensur Suljovic 101.38, Paul Lim 84.91
Singles Two: Rowby-John Rodriguez v Harith Lim
0-1 - Lim lands a 180 to leave 59, and when Rodriguez wires the bull the left-hander takes out tops to win the opener.
1-1 - Rodriguez opens with a 180 before levelling on double two.
2-1 - Double ten sees Rodriguez move ahead.
2-2 - Rodriguez misses two darts at double 14, and Lim capitalises with a neat two-dart 78.
3-2 - Rodriguez finishes 80 on tops to move a leg away from victory.
4-2 - Rodriguez seals Austria's quarter-final place with a 64 checkout.
Averages: Rowby-John Rodriguez 96.29, Harith Lim 82.84
Doubles: Suljovic/Rodriguez v Lim/Lim
Not Needed
Final Score: Austria 2-0 Singapore
Scotland v Norway
Singles One: Gary Anderson v Cor Dekker
0-1 - A bizarre opening sees Anderson miss seven darts at doubles before Dekker hits double four - after earlier aiming at double eight instead of the bed he eventually won the leg on!
1-1 - Anderson recovers from his earlier misses to level.
2-1 - The World Champion hits double five to move ahead.
2-2 - Dekker opens with a 177 before finishing tops to level.
2-3 - Anderson misses three darts at double 12, and Dekker finishes 79 to move a leg away from the win.
3-3 - Dekker misses a dart at tops, and Anderson lands double 18 to force a decider.
4-3 - Dekker leaves himself 52, but Anderson shows his class with a stunning 160 checkout to snatch victory.
Averages: Gary Anderson 87.99, Cor Dekker 80.33
Singles Two: Robert Thornton v Robert Wagner
0-1 - Double 18 gives Wagner the opening leg.
1-1 - Wagner misses three darts to move two legs up, and Thornton hits tops to capitalise.
2-1 - Thornton takes out 62 on tops to move ahead.
3-1 - Wagner misses two darts at double 16 to finish 74, and Thornton lands tops to move two legs up.
4-1 - Thornton misses tops for a 160 finish of his own, but returns to hit the bed as he seals victory for Scotland.
Averages: Robert Thornton 85.00, Robert Wagner 78.07
Doubles: Anderson/Thornton v Dekker/Wagner
Not Needed
Final Score: Scotland 2-0 Norway
Australia v Denmark
Singles One: Simon Whitlock v Daniel Jensen
1-0 - Whitlock finishes 60 on tops to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Whitlock misses double five to move two legs up, and Jensen returns from a missed bullseye to take out 39.
1-2 - Jensen threatens a surprise by finishing 20.
2-2 - Double nine sees Whitlock level.
3-2 - The Australian lands double 16 to move ahead.
3-3 - Whitock misses two match darts at double 18, and Jensen finishes double five with his third dart to send the game into a decider as he searches for an upset.
4-3 - Whitlock snatches victory with a 101 checkout on double 18.
Averages: Simon Whitlock 89.73, Daniel Jensen 73.72
Singles Two: Kyle Anderson v Per Laursen
0-1 - Anderson misses five darts at doubles, and Laursen steps in to finish 68 for a break of throw.
1-1 - Anderson hits a 180 and finishes 80 to level.
1-2 - Double ten edges Laursen back ahead.
2-2 - Laursen hits a 180, but Anderson posts double 12 to level.
2-3 - Anderson opens with a 180 and Laursen lands a 174 before the Australian's four missed doubles are punished as the Dane steals in to land double top.
2-4 - Laursen is first to a finish before saling the win on double ten.
Averages: Kyle Anderson 84.36, Per Laursen 82.72
Doubles: Whitlock/Anderson v Jensen/Laursen
1-0 - Jensen misses a dart at tops to punish four misses from Australia, with Whitlock returning on double four.
2-0 - Whitlock fires in a 180 and double eight to move Australia two legs up.
3-0 - Whitlock takes out 76 on double eight to continue Australia's charge.
4-0 - Whitlock and Laursen trade 180s before the pony-tailed Australian finishes 104 to complete a brilliant Doubles display and move his nation into the quarter-finals.
Averages: Australia 93.94, Denmark 72.40
Final Score: Australia 2-1 Denmark
England v China
Singles One: Phil Taylor v Yuanjun Liu
1-0 - Liu is first to a finish, but five missed doubles allow Taylor in to finish 94 to win the opening leg.
2-0 - Taylor takes out double four to move England two legs up.
3-0 - Double top moves Taylor a leg away from the win.
4-0 - Taylor seals the win for England with double top.
Averages: Phil Taylor 81.24, Yuanjun Liu 72.13
Singles Two: Adrian Lewis v Wenge Xie
1-0 - Lewis wins the opener by taking out 50 on double ten.
2-0 - Xie hits a 171 score - and celebrates to the delight of the crowd - before Lewis lands tops to double his lead, with the pair exchanging a high five after England move two up.
3-0 - Lewis finishes 92 in clinical fashion to move to the brink of victory.
4-0 - Lewis opens with 180 and 140 before hitting tops to complete a 13-darter to move England into the quarter-finals.
Averages: Adrian Lewis 89.73, Wenge Xie 73.50
Doubles: Taylor/Lewis v Liu/Xie
Not Needed
Final Score: England 2-0 China
Netherlands v Philippines
Singles One: Michael van Gerwen v Gilbert Ulang
0-1 - Ulang hits a 180 and finishes 83 to win the opening leg.
1-1 - van Gerwen kicks off with a 180 before landing double eight to level.
2-1 - Tops moves the world number one ahead.
2-2 - van Gerwen opens with a 180, but misses double 18 and nine to allow the Philippines ace in to take out 67 on double eight.
3-2 - van Gerwen hits another 180 before finishing 88 to move back in front.
4-2 - Double six seals victory for van Gerwen to put the Netherlands ahead in the tie.
Averages: Michael van Gerwen 96.99, Gilbert Ulang 84.40
Singles Two: Raymond van Barneveld v Alex Tagarao
0-1 - Tagarao opens the game with a 180 before finishing 80 to take the opening leg.
1-1 - van Barneveld levels with double top.
2-1 - van Barneveld finishes 116 to move ahead.
3-1 - vam Barneveld lands a 180 before finishing double six for a 13-darter.
3-2 - Double ten for Tagarao keeps his hopes alive.
4-2 - van Barneveld completes another 13-darter on double top to move the two-time champions into the last eight.
Averages: Raymond van Barneveld 101.75, Alex Tagarao 87.49
Doubles: van Gerwen/van Barneveld v Ulang/Tagarao
Not Needed
Final Score: Netherlands 2-0 Philippines