RESULTS and reports from Saturday's Group Stage of the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts.
The last eight teams return to the Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-le-Spring to compete in two groups across the afternoon and evening sessions.
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Cash Converters World Cup of Darts
Saturday December 4
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Group A: four winners from Round Two, top two progress to semi-finals.
Each team plays each other team once in a match that consists of two best of five leg singles and a best of five leg doubles.
Top ranked player from each country plays second ranked player from opposition, then reverse singles, then doubles.
One point is awarded per singles match won, two per doubles.
All points count to overall league table.
Loser throws first, leg difference separates teams tied on points. If points and leg difference are the same, the overall team average within the three group games will be the next deciding factor.
Group A
1. Netherlands
2. Canada
3. Austria
4. Australia
Match One - Netherlands v Canada
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Ken MacNeil
Co Stompe 2-3 John Part
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Part/MacNeil
Netherlands 3pts, Canada 1pt
Match Two - Austria v Australia
Mensur Suljovic 2-3 Paul Nicholson
Maik Langendorf 1-3 Simon Whitlock
Suljovic/Langendorf 2-3 Whitlock/Nicholson
Australia 4pts, Austria 0pts
Match Three - Netherlands v Austria
Raymond van Barneveld 3-2 Maik Langendorf
Co Stompe 2-3 Mensur Suljovic
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Suljovic/Langendorf
Netherlands 3pts, Austria 1pt
Match Four - Canada v Australia
John Part 2-3 Paul Nicholson
Ken MacNeil 3-1 Simon Whitlock
Part/MacNeil 1-3 Whitlock/Nicholson
Australia 3pts, Canada 1pt
Match Five - Netherlands v Australia
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Paul Nicholson
Co Stompe 0-3 Simon Whitlock
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Whitlock/Nicholson
Netherlands 3pts, Australia 1pt
Match Six - Canada v Austria
John Part 3-0 Maik Langendorf
Ken MacNeil 1-3 Mensur Suljovic
Part/MacNeil 3-1 Suljovic/Langendorf
Canada 3pts, Austria 1pt
NETHERLANDS v CANADA
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Ken MacNeil
Co Stompe 2-3 John Part
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Part/MacNeil
Netherlands 3pts, Canada 1pt
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD and Co Stompe edged past Canada, with victory in a deciding leg in their Doubles game giving them three points to the Canadians' one.
Van Barneveld opened the Singles games with a whitewash of Ken MacNeil, opening with double eight before hitting double 16 in the second leg after the Canadian opened with a 180 but failed to leave a double when in command.
MacNeil had his chances in the third leg, but missed two darts at double top as van Barneveld finished 76 on double four to take the win and one point.
John Part gained revenge for Canada in the other Singles game, defeating Co Stompe in a decider.
Stompe leg courtesy of double ten, but Part levelled on double three and broke throw on tops to lead 2-1, with Stompe taking out 117 to force a decider but waiting on 64 in the last leg as the three-time World Champion finished double 16.
The Doubles contest between the teams also went to a deciding leg, with the Netherlands moving 1-0 up courtesy of double top from van Barneveld after Part missed the bullseye for a 170 finish.
Part did hit the bull to take the second with an 81 finish, while MacNeil finished 99 in the third to edge them ahead.
Van Barneveld, though, posted double ten to level and hit the same bed to take victory in the deciding leg, after also hitting a 171 score in setting up a finish.
Match Stats
AUSTRALIA v AUSTRIA
Mensur Suljovic 2-3 Paul Nicholson
Maik Langendorf 1-3 Simon Whitlock
Suljovic/Langendorf 2-3 Whitlock/Nicholson
Australia 4pts, Austria 0pts
AUSTRALIAN pair Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson took all four points in their clash with Austria - but needed a brilliant ten-darter to win the deciding leg of their Doubles game.
The Aussie duo, though, made hard work of the victory despite winning both Singles matches against Mensur Suljovic and Maik Langendorf.
Nicholson took a 2-0 lead against Suljovic, who started slowly but defied maximums from his opponent to take out 104 in the third leg and 70 to level.
Suljovic also hit scores of 177 and 125 in the decider but missed a dart for the match at double 12 before Nicholson landed double four for victory.
Whitlock matched Nicholson's quick start, opening his Singles game with Langendorf with a 180 in a 13-dart first leg, and double nine put him 2-0 up.
Langendorf finished 110 for the third leg, but Whitlock posted a 171 score in the fourth before double eight gave him the win.
The Doubles contest took a similar pattern, with Australia opening with a 13-darter and Whitlock posting double eight to win the second leg.
Langendorf posted tops for the third, and after Nicholson wasted two match darts in the fourth the newcomer took out double ten to force a decider.
However, scores of 140 and 145 from Whitlock came either side of a 180 from Nicholson, who then took out double 18 for a ten-darter as Australia secured all four points.
Match Stats
CANADA v AUSTRALIA
John Part 2-3 Paul Nicholson
Ken MacNeil 3-1 Simon Whitlock
Part/MacNeil 1-3 Whitlock/Nicholson
Australia 3pts, Canada 1pt
AUSTRALIA'S Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson ensured a place in the semi-finals of the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts with a 3-1 win over Canada's John Part and Ken MacNeil.
Nicholson came from 2-1 down to defeat Part in the Singles, while MacNeil was a 3-1 winner over Whitlock before the Australian side won the deciding Doubles game 3-1.
Nicholson hit a 180 in taking the first game's opening leg on double 16, but a second maximum was not enough as Part took out 77 to level and hit a 180 and a 68 finish to lead 2-1.
Nicholson posted his third maximum and double ten to win the fourth, before producing two 180s in a brilliant 13-dart deciding leg.
MacNeil gained revenge for Part's defeat with a 3-1 win over Whitlock, who hit a 180 in the opening leg and a 171 score in the second only for the Canadian to be first to hit a double.
MacNeil also missed the bull for a whitewash in the third, as Whitlock returned to finish 61 in two darts, but MacNeil posted a 177 and double top to wrap up his win.
Australia came out firing in the Doubles, with Nicholson hitting a 177 and Whitlock landing double 12 for a 13-dart opening leg.
MacNeil had hit a maximum in the opening leg and took out a brilliant 145 checkout for a 12-darter in the second, but Nicholson's double eight edged Australia 2-1 up.
They then sealed the win in style, with the countries trading 180s but Nicholson and Whitlock posting further scores of 140 and 145 before Nicholson landed double 18 for an 11-dart winning leg.
Match Stats
NETHERLANDS v AUSTRALIA
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Paul Nicholson
Co Stompe 0-3 Simon Whitlock
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Whitlock/Nicholson
Netherlands 3pts, Australia 1pt
THE Netherlands secured top spot in Group A, taking a deciding-leg win against Australia in their decisive Doubles game confirming their progression to the semi-finals on Sunday.
After Raymond van Barneveld took a 3-1 win over Paul Nicholson in their Singles game, Simon Whitlock whitewashed Co Stompe before the Dutch ace landed the winning blow in the Doubles.
Nicholson opened the game with double 16 but van Barneveld took out 68 to level and hit a 180 in winning the third, before finishing double 16 for victory with a 100 percent checkout ratio.
Simon Whitlock matched van Barneveld's brilliance with a 3-0 win over Co Stompe in their Singles game, punishing misses from the Dutchman in every leg to square the tie.
He hit double eight for the opening leg, a 180 and double 16 in the second and tops in the third to secure his point.
The Dutch capitalised on misses from the Australians to take the Doubles game's opening two legs, with Stompe landing double two and van Barneveld checking out 56 on double 18.
Whitlock and Stompe traded 180s in the third, which Whitlock returned to win with a 127 checkout before hitting another maximum in the fourth, which Nicholson took with a 98 finish to level.
Van Barneveld hit a 180 in the decider, and although he missed the bull for a 125 finish Stompe returned to hit double two with Australia waiting on 32.
Match Stats
CANADA v AUSTRIA
John Part 3-0 Maik Langendorf
Ken MacNeil 1-3 Mensur Suljovic
Part/MacNeil 3-1 Suljovic/Langendorf
Canada 3pts, Austria 1pt
CANADA secured third place in Group A at the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts following their victory over Austria in the final Group A match.
The pair entered the contest knowing that qualification for the semis was out of reach, but with an additional £1,500 prize money on offer for the team finishing third in the group.
Canada made an ideal start, with John Part defeating Maik Langendorf in straight legs, hitting a 180 and an 81 finish for the opening leg, double 19 in the second and a brilliant 164 checkout to seal the whitewash.
Mensur Suljovic gained revenge with a 3-1 win over Ken MacNeil in the other Singles game, although the Canadian took the first leg but paid for missed doubles in falling to defeat.
After Suljovic levelled in leg two, he then took out 74 and 92 to seal victory.
Austria also led in the Doubles game after Langendorf posted double eight, but after Suljovic opened the second leg with a 180 they paid for misses as Canada levelled before MacNeil took out double ten for a 3-1 lead.
The Austrians also had chances to level in the fourth leg, but wasted six darts at a double before MacNeil took out double eight for the win.
Match Stats
Final Table
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Group B: As per afternoon session
Group B
1. Spain
2. USA
3. Wales
4. Scotland
Match One - Spain v USA
Carlos Rodriguez 3-2 Bill Davis
Antonio Alcinas 1-3 Darin Young
Rodriguez/Alcinas 3-1 Young/Davis
Spain 3pts, USA 1pt
Match Two - Wales v Scotland
Mark Webster 3-0 Robert Thornton
Barrie Bates 2-3 Gary Anderson
Webster/Bates 3-2 Anderson/Thornton
Wales 3pts, Scotland 1pt
Match Three - Spain v Wales
Carlos Rodriguez 3-1 Barrie Bates
Antonio Alcinas 1-3 Mark Webster
Rodriguez/Alcinas 0-3 Webster/Bates
Wales 3pts, Spain 1pt
Match Four - USA v Scotland
Darin Young 2-3 Robert Thornton
Bill Davis 0-3 Gary Anderson
Young/Davis 2-3 Anderson/Thornton
Scotland 4pts, USA 0pts
Match Five - Spain v Scotland
Carlos Rodriguez 0-3 Robert Thornton
Antonio Alcinas 3-2 Gary Anderson
Rodriguez/Alcinas 3-1 Anderson/Thornton
Spain 3pts, Scotland 1pt
Match Six - USA v Wales
Darin Young 3-2 Barrie Bates
Bill Davis 1-3 Mark Webster
Young/Davis 3-1 Webster/Bates
USA 3pts, Wales 1pt
GROUP B
SPAIN v USA
Carlos Rodriguez 3-2 Bill Davis
Antonio Alcinas 1-3 Darin Young
Rodriguez/Alcinas 3-1 Young/Davis
Spain 3pts, USA 1pt
SPAIN opened Group B's play with a thrilling victory over the USA, taking a 3-1 Doubles triumph to continue their impressive Cash Converters World Cup of Darts challenge.
The Spanish sent favourites England packing from the tournament in round two on Friday night, and Carlos Rodriguez and Antonio Alcinas kicked off their bid for a semi-final place in style against American pair Darin Young and Bill Davs.
Rodriguez edged out Davis to win the opening Singles game in five legs, finishing double top after Davis missed four doubles in the opening leg before the American finished 96 to level.
Davis also missed tops in the third before Rodriguez hit the same bed, and the Spaniard recovered from losing the fourth to hit a 180 and double top for the match.
Young gained revenge for Davis' loss with a 3-1 win over Alcinas, who took the opening leg of their Singles game with a 115 finish.
Alcinas also hit a 180 in the second leg to leave a finish, but Young took out a pressure 91 on tops, double six to break and then the fourth leg for victory.
Young gave the USA the lead in the Doubles tie on tops, but a brace of double ten finishes from Alcinas edged Spain ahead and Rodriguez gave them overall victory with a 120 checkout.
Match Stats
WALES v SCOTLAND
Mark Webster 3-0 Robert Thornton
Barrie Bates 2-3 Gary Anderson
Webster/Bates 3-2 Anderson/Thornton
Wales 3pts, Scotland 1pt
WALES defeated Scotland in the deciding of their Doubles contest to take three points from their opening Group B contest, as Mark Webster and Barrie Bates made a fine start.
Left-hander Webster kicked off the Singles games with a 3-0 whitewash of Robert Thornton, averaging 96 in the game and hitting three from five attempts at a double.
Double ten gave the Welshman the opening leg, which he followed with a 180 and an 81 finish to double his lead, before double 12 ensured a flawless triumpgh.
Barrie Bates came close to completing a double, but went down 3-2 to Gary Anderson in their Singles contest.
After Anderson took out 84 on the bull for the game's opening leg, Bates won the next two, landing double 12 and then taking out 116 for a 2-1 lead.
However, Bates wasted two match darts in the next as Anderson recovered from earlier misses to level on double five, before hitting a 180 in the decider and double 18 to take the win.
Webster kicked off the Doubles by trading double top finishes with Anderson, before Bates edged Wales 2-1 up on double 16.
Thornton landed tops to force a deciding leg in the match, but Bates hit a 180 and then took out 88 to seal the points.
Match Stats
SPAIN v WALES
Carlos Rodriguez 3-1 Barrie Bates
Antonio Alcinas 1-3 Mark Webster
Rodriguez/Alcinas 0-3 Webster/Bates
Wales 3pts, Spain 1pt
MARK WEBSTER showed his champion class to help Wales to a 3-1 victory against Spain in their second Group B game, improving the chances of him and Barrie Bates qualifying for Sunday's semi-finals.
The Welsh remain unbeaten after seeing off the Spanish, who took the opening Singles match when Carlos Rodriguez overcame Bates but saw Webster defeat Antonio Alcinas before guiding his side to a Doubles whitewash.
Rodriguez made a brilliant start to his Singles game with Bates, opening with a 123 bullseye finish and doubling his lead on tops.
Double nine gave Bates the third leg, but Rodriguez posted double eight in the fourth to take the point.
The second Singles clash, between Alcinas and Webster, started superbly when the pair hit five successive treble 20s each to open the game, only for the Welshman to miss seven darts at a double before Alcinas took the lead on double four.
Webster ended his run of double trouble to hit double two and level before landing double ten for a 2-1 lead.
Alcinas posted a 180 to leave a double in the fourth, but Webster produced a sensational 121 bullseye finish to take the win.
Bates gave Wales the early lead in the Doubles contest, and Webster posted double 12 for a 2-0 lead after an Alcinas 180 left 32 only for Rodriguez to miss three darts for the leg.
Alcinas also landed a maximum in the third, but both he and Rodriguez would miss their chances before Webster returned to complete a whitewash win on double two.
Match Stats
USA v SCOTLAND
Darin Young 2-3 Robert Thornton
Bill Davis 0-3 Gary Anderson
Young/Davis 2-3 Anderson/Thornton
Scotland 4pts, USA 0pts
SCOTLAND ended America's Cash Converters World Cup of Darts hopes when Gary Anderson won a thrilling Doubles clash in the deciding leg to give his team a 4-0 whitewash.
Both teams had lost their opening Group B games, but the USA responded well with Darin Young opening his Singles game with Robert Thornton by taking a 2-0 lead.
The left-hander finished double ten for the opening leg and, after Thornton missed the bull for a 130 checkout, landed double five to win the second.
Thornton got off the mark on double three, and after Young missed tops for the match in the fourth double ten levelled, before the Scot returned to take the win by hitting the same bed.
Gary Anderson produced the performance of the tournament to win the second Singles game 3-0 against Bill Davis, who was denied a dart at a double by a thrilling display by the Scot, who averaged 110.
Anderson opened with a 13-dart finish, ending on double top, and posted double nine for the second leg before hitting a 180 and an 81 finish to seal victory.
Anderson also proved the dominant player in the Doubles game, despite America taking the opening leg when Davis hit double six.
Scotland levelled and Anderson then posted a 180 in the third, which Thornton took with an 85 checkout.
Davis hit double ten to level and send the game into a decider, and a 180 from Young gave America hopes of snatching a win to draw the contest - only for Anderson to cruelly deny him by taking out 97 in two darts.
Match Stats
SPAIN v SCOTLAND
Carlos Rodriguez 0-3 Robert Thornton
Antonio Alcinas 3-2 Gary Anderson
Rodriguez/Alcinas 3-1 Anderson/Thornton
Spain 3pts, Scotland 1pt
SPAIN'S dream run in the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts has continued after they qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament, where they will compete alongside the Netherlands, Australia and Wales on Sunday.
The Spanish pair of Carlos Rodriguez and Antonio Alcinas caused a sensation when they knocked out England's Phil Taylor and James Wade in the second round on Friday night.
They followed that up with wins over the USA and Scotland in Group B to progress to the semi-finals of the £150,000 event at the Rainton Meadows Arena.
Their fate hinged on the deciding Doubles game of their clash with Scotland, which they won 3-1 to seal a semi-final berth.
That looked unlikely when Thornton wasted little time in defeating Rodriguez 3-0 in the opening Singles game.
Rodriguez missed two darts to win the opening leg, with Thornton hitting tops for the leg and repeating the trick for a 2-0 lead.
He also hit a 180 in the third to set up an 80 finish, which he also checked out on tops for a 100 percent doubles ratio in a whitewash triumph.
The second Singles game saw Alcinas face Anderson, who had averaged 110 in his previous Singles game against the USA but came up against a fine display from the newcomer.
Alcinas led on double 16 and missed double 18 for the second leg after the pair traded 180s, with Anderson hitting double 16.
Alcinas took the third on double ten but Anderson won leg four to force a decider - only to see the Spaniard pull away and post double two for the win.
Rodriguez made a superb start to the Doubles match with a 115 checkout, and double 12 put Spain 2-0 up.
Thornton hit double five to win the third leg for Spain, but Alcinas posted a timely 180 in the next before Rodriguez took out 71 for a stunning victory.
Match Stats
USA v WALES
Darin Young 3-2 Barrie Bates
Bill Davis 1-3 Mark Webster
Young/Davis 3-1 Webster/Bates
USA 3pts, Wales 1pt
THE American pair of Darin Young and Bill Davis bowed out of the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts with victory against Wales, whose duo of Mark Webster and Barrie Bates progress to the semi-finals after picking up a point in their third contest.
Wales went into the game needing to avoid a 4-0 whitewash to knock out Scotland and book their own semi-final berth, and a Singles win for Mark Webster did just that as they set up a Sunday afternoon meeting with Australia at the Rainton Meadows Arena.
Darin Young inflicted a 3-2 defeat on Barrie Bates in the opening Singles game, with the American taking a 2-0 lead before Bates hit 180s in successive legs in drawing level.
Bates also hit a 180, his fourth of the game, in the decider, but missed his chances to take the win as Young posted double 14 to edge to victory.
Webster then took to the stage against Bill Davis, and although the left-hander took the opening leg he showed signs of tension with three missed doubles in the second as Davis levelled on double 15.
Webster, though, showed his class with an 11-darter to move 2-1 up before landing double top for the all-important win which sealed Wales' progression.
The Doubles game saw the Americans finish with a flourish, with the opening legs shared thanks to double ten finishes before misses from Webster and Bates allowed Young in on double two for the third, before he took out 110 for the win.
Match Stats
Final Table
Semi-Final Fixtures (1pm Sunday)
Netherlands v Spain
Raymond van Barneveld v Antonio Alcinas
Co Stompe v Carlos Rodriguez
Raymond van Barneveld v Carlos Rodriguez
Co Stompe v Antonio Alcinas
van Barneveld/Stompe v Rodriguez/Alcinas
Wales v Australia
Mark Webster v Paul Nicholson
Barrie Bates v Simon Whitlock
Mark Webster v Simon Whitlock
Barrie Bates v Paul Nicholson
Webster/Bates v Whitlock/Nicholson
The last eight teams return to the Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-le-Spring to compete in two groups across the afternoon and evening sessions.
Watch Live!
Coverage is live on Sky Sports and live in PDCtv for International Pass subscribers.
Click here to visit PDCtv
Cash Converters World Cup of Darts
Saturday December 4
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Group A: four winners from Round Two, top two progress to semi-finals.
Each team plays each other team once in a match that consists of two best of five leg singles and a best of five leg doubles.
Top ranked player from each country plays second ranked player from opposition, then reverse singles, then doubles.
One point is awarded per singles match won, two per doubles.
All points count to overall league table.
Loser throws first, leg difference separates teams tied on points. If points and leg difference are the same, the overall team average within the three group games will be the next deciding factor.
Group A
1. Netherlands
2. Canada
3. Austria
4. Australia
Match One - Netherlands v Canada
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Ken MacNeil
Co Stompe 2-3 John Part
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Part/MacNeil
Netherlands 3pts, Canada 1pt
Match Two - Austria v Australia
Mensur Suljovic 2-3 Paul Nicholson
Maik Langendorf 1-3 Simon Whitlock
Suljovic/Langendorf 2-3 Whitlock/Nicholson
Australia 4pts, Austria 0pts
Match Three - Netherlands v Austria
Raymond van Barneveld 3-2 Maik Langendorf
Co Stompe 2-3 Mensur Suljovic
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Suljovic/Langendorf
Netherlands 3pts, Austria 1pt
Match Four - Canada v Australia
John Part 2-3 Paul Nicholson
Ken MacNeil 3-1 Simon Whitlock
Part/MacNeil 1-3 Whitlock/Nicholson
Australia 3pts, Canada 1pt
Match Five - Netherlands v Australia
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Paul Nicholson
Co Stompe 0-3 Simon Whitlock
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Whitlock/Nicholson
Netherlands 3pts, Australia 1pt
Match Six - Canada v Austria
John Part 3-0 Maik Langendorf
Ken MacNeil 1-3 Mensur Suljovic
Part/MacNeil 3-1 Suljovic/Langendorf
Canada 3pts, Austria 1pt
NETHERLANDS v CANADA
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Ken MacNeil
Co Stompe 2-3 John Part
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Part/MacNeil
Netherlands 3pts, Canada 1pt
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD and Co Stompe edged past Canada, with victory in a deciding leg in their Doubles game giving them three points to the Canadians' one.
Van Barneveld opened the Singles games with a whitewash of Ken MacNeil, opening with double eight before hitting double 16 in the second leg after the Canadian opened with a 180 but failed to leave a double when in command.
MacNeil had his chances in the third leg, but missed two darts at double top as van Barneveld finished 76 on double four to take the win and one point.
John Part gained revenge for Canada in the other Singles game, defeating Co Stompe in a decider.
Stompe leg courtesy of double ten, but Part levelled on double three and broke throw on tops to lead 2-1, with Stompe taking out 117 to force a decider but waiting on 64 in the last leg as the three-time World Champion finished double 16.
The Doubles contest between the teams also went to a deciding leg, with the Netherlands moving 1-0 up courtesy of double top from van Barneveld after Part missed the bullseye for a 170 finish.
Part did hit the bull to take the second with an 81 finish, while MacNeil finished 99 in the third to edge them ahead.
Van Barneveld, though, posted double ten to level and hit the same bed to take victory in the deciding leg, after also hitting a 171 score in setting up a finish.
Match Stats
|
Netherlands |
3-1 |
Canada |
|
15 |
100+ |
12 |
|
10 |
140+ |
6 |
|
0 |
180 |
1 |
|
30.17 |
Ave1 |
28.08 |
|
90.50 |
Ave3 |
84.25 |
|
5 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
117 |
High Finish |
99 |
AUSTRALIA v AUSTRIA
Mensur Suljovic 2-3 Paul Nicholson
Maik Langendorf 1-3 Simon Whitlock
Suljovic/Langendorf 2-3 Whitlock/Nicholson
Australia 4pts, Austria 0pts
AUSTRALIAN pair Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson took all four points in their clash with Austria - but needed a brilliant ten-darter to win the deciding leg of their Doubles game.
The Aussie duo, though, made hard work of the victory despite winning both Singles matches against Mensur Suljovic and Maik Langendorf.
Nicholson took a 2-0 lead against Suljovic, who started slowly but defied maximums from his opponent to take out 104 in the third leg and 70 to level.
Suljovic also hit scores of 177 and 125 in the decider but missed a dart for the match at double 12 before Nicholson landed double four for victory.
Whitlock matched Nicholson's quick start, opening his Singles game with Langendorf with a 180 in a 13-dart first leg, and double nine put him 2-0 up.
Langendorf finished 110 for the third leg, but Whitlock posted a 171 score in the fourth before double eight gave him the win.
The Doubles contest took a similar pattern, with Australia opening with a 13-darter and Whitlock posting double eight to win the second leg.
Langendorf posted tops for the third, and after Nicholson wasted two match darts in the fourth the newcomer took out double ten to force a decider.
However, scores of 140 and 145 from Whitlock came either side of a 180 from Nicholson, who then took out double 18 for a ten-darter as Australia secured all four points.
Match Stats
|
Austria |
0-4 |
Australia |
|
18 |
100+ |
17 |
|
6 |
140+ |
13 |
|
0 |
180 |
4 |
|
27.05 |
Ave1 |
31.54 |
|
81.15 |
Ave3 |
94.61 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
4 |
|
110,104 |
High Finish |
50 |
NETHERLANDS v AUSTRIA
Raymond van Barneveld 3-2 Maik Langendorf
Co Stompe 2-3 Mensur Suljovic
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Suljovic/Langendorf
Netherlands 3pts, Austria 1pt
THE Netherlands team of Raymond van Barneveld and Co Stompe edged a second successive deciding leg to pick up three points against Austria, who took a point but are on the brink of elimination from the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts.
Van Barneveld had to come from 2-0 down to defeat Maik Langendorf, who edged a sloppy first leg and hit a 180 in the second before taking out double top.
The Dutchman hit a 77 finish to take the third and double two to force a decider, and after Langendorf missed four match darts he then returned to land double 11 for the win.
Mensur Suljovic gave Austria their first point of the day with a 3-2 win over Co Stompe in their Singles contest.
Some fine finishing saw the pair trade the first four legs, with Suljovic taking out 88 in two darts and 132 on the bull while Stompe checked out 85 and 80 to force a decider.
Suljovic hit a 174 to leave a finish after nine darts, and finished double ten to seal victory.
The duo returned to the stage for the Doubles match, which also went to a deciding leg.
Dutch misses allowed Austria to win the first leg on double eight, before double ten from van Barneveld levelled, and the five-time World Champion hit two 180s in setting up a ten-darter which Stompe finished on double eight.
Suljovic recorded a double ten finish to force a deciding leg, but the Dutch were too strong and Stompe hit double 18 to secure a 3-1 win.
Match Stats
|
Netherlands |
3-1 |
Austria |
|
18 |
100+ |
17 |
|
7 |
140+ |
8 |
|
3 |
180 |
3 |
|
28.76 |
Ave1 |
27.91 |
|
86.27 |
Ave3 |
83.74 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
85 |
High Finish |
132 |
CANADA v AUSTRALIA
John Part 2-3 Paul Nicholson
Ken MacNeil 3-1 Simon Whitlock
Part/MacNeil 1-3 Whitlock/Nicholson
Australia 3pts, Canada 1pt
AUSTRALIA'S Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson ensured a place in the semi-finals of the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts with a 3-1 win over Canada's John Part and Ken MacNeil.
Nicholson came from 2-1 down to defeat Part in the Singles, while MacNeil was a 3-1 winner over Whitlock before the Australian side won the deciding Doubles game 3-1.
Nicholson hit a 180 in taking the first game's opening leg on double 16, but a second maximum was not enough as Part took out 77 to level and hit a 180 and a 68 finish to lead 2-1.
Nicholson posted his third maximum and double ten to win the fourth, before producing two 180s in a brilliant 13-dart deciding leg.
MacNeil gained revenge for Part's defeat with a 3-1 win over Whitlock, who hit a 180 in the opening leg and a 171 score in the second only for the Canadian to be first to hit a double.
MacNeil also missed the bull for a whitewash in the third, as Whitlock returned to finish 61 in two darts, but MacNeil posted a 177 and double top to wrap up his win.
Australia came out firing in the Doubles, with Nicholson hitting a 177 and Whitlock landing double 12 for a 13-dart opening leg.
MacNeil had hit a maximum in the opening leg and took out a brilliant 145 checkout for a 12-darter in the second, but Nicholson's double eight edged Australia 2-1 up.
They then sealed the win in style, with the countries trading 180s but Nicholson and Whitlock posting further scores of 140 and 145 before Nicholson landed double 18 for an 11-dart winning leg.
Match Stats
|
Canada |
1-3 |
Australia |
|
11 |
100+ |
9 |
|
7 |
140+ |
10 |
|
4 |
180 |
7 |
|
32.36 |
Ave1 |
32.13 |
|
97.09 |
Ave3 |
96.38 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
145 |
High Finish |
64 |
NETHERLANDS v AUSTRALIA
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Paul Nicholson
Co Stompe 0-3 Simon Whitlock
van Barneveld/Stompe 3-2 Whitlock/Nicholson
Netherlands 3pts, Australia 1pt
THE Netherlands secured top spot in Group A, taking a deciding-leg win against Australia in their decisive Doubles game confirming their progression to the semi-finals on Sunday.
After Raymond van Barneveld took a 3-1 win over Paul Nicholson in their Singles game, Simon Whitlock whitewashed Co Stompe before the Dutch ace landed the winning blow in the Doubles.
Nicholson opened the game with double 16 but van Barneveld took out 68 to level and hit a 180 in winning the third, before finishing double 16 for victory with a 100 percent checkout ratio.
Simon Whitlock matched van Barneveld's brilliance with a 3-0 win over Co Stompe in their Singles game, punishing misses from the Dutchman in every leg to square the tie.
He hit double eight for the opening leg, a 180 and double 16 in the second and tops in the third to secure his point.
The Dutch capitalised on misses from the Australians to take the Doubles game's opening two legs, with Stompe landing double two and van Barneveld checking out 56 on double 18.
Whitlock and Stompe traded 180s in the third, which Whitlock returned to win with a 127 checkout before hitting another maximum in the fourth, which Nicholson took with a 98 finish to level.
Van Barneveld hit a 180 in the decider, and although he missed the bull for a 125 finish Stompe returned to hit double two with Australia waiting on 32.
Match Stats
|
Netherlands |
3-1 |
Australia |
|
18 |
100+ |
12 |
|
6 |
140+ |
11 |
|
3 |
180 |
3 |
|
30.07 |
Ave1 |
31.24 |
|
90.21 |
Ave3 |
93.72 |
|
4 |
Legs Against Throw |
4 |
|
68 |
High Finish |
127 |
CANADA v AUSTRIA
John Part 3-0 Maik Langendorf
Ken MacNeil 1-3 Mensur Suljovic
Part/MacNeil 3-1 Suljovic/Langendorf
Canada 3pts, Austria 1pt
CANADA secured third place in Group A at the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts following their victory over Austria in the final Group A match.
The pair entered the contest knowing that qualification for the semis was out of reach, but with an additional £1,500 prize money on offer for the team finishing third in the group.
Canada made an ideal start, with John Part defeating Maik Langendorf in straight legs, hitting a 180 and an 81 finish for the opening leg, double 19 in the second and a brilliant 164 checkout to seal the whitewash.
Mensur Suljovic gained revenge with a 3-1 win over Ken MacNeil in the other Singles game, although the Canadian took the first leg but paid for missed doubles in falling to defeat.
After Suljovic levelled in leg two, he then took out 74 and 92 to seal victory.
Austria also led in the Doubles game after Langendorf posted double eight, but after Suljovic opened the second leg with a 180 they paid for misses as Canada levelled before MacNeil took out double ten for a 3-1 lead.
The Austrians also had chances to level in the fourth leg, but wasted six darts at a double before MacNeil took out double eight for the win.
Match Stats
|
Canada |
3-1 |
Austria |
|
13 |
100+ |
17 |
|
13 |
140+ |
6 |
|
1 |
180 |
1 |
|
29.72 |
Ave1 |
27.31 |
|
89.16 |
Ave3 |
81.92 |
|
5 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
164 |
High Finish |
92 |
Final Table
| Group A |
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Points |
|
Netherlands |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
22 |
18 |
9 |
|
Australia |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
22 |
17 |
8 |
|
Canada |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
18 |
19 |
5 |
|
Austria |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
16 |
24 |
2 |
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Group B: As per afternoon session
Group B
1. Spain
2. USA
3. Wales
4. Scotland
Match One - Spain v USA
Carlos Rodriguez 3-2 Bill Davis
Antonio Alcinas 1-3 Darin Young
Rodriguez/Alcinas 3-1 Young/Davis
Spain 3pts, USA 1pt
Match Two - Wales v Scotland
Mark Webster 3-0 Robert Thornton
Barrie Bates 2-3 Gary Anderson
Webster/Bates 3-2 Anderson/Thornton
Wales 3pts, Scotland 1pt
Match Three - Spain v Wales
Carlos Rodriguez 3-1 Barrie Bates
Antonio Alcinas 1-3 Mark Webster
Rodriguez/Alcinas 0-3 Webster/Bates
Wales 3pts, Spain 1pt
Match Four - USA v Scotland
Darin Young 2-3 Robert Thornton
Bill Davis 0-3 Gary Anderson
Young/Davis 2-3 Anderson/Thornton
Scotland 4pts, USA 0pts
Match Five - Spain v Scotland
Carlos Rodriguez 0-3 Robert Thornton
Antonio Alcinas 3-2 Gary Anderson
Rodriguez/Alcinas 3-1 Anderson/Thornton
Spain 3pts, Scotland 1pt
Match Six - USA v Wales
Darin Young 3-2 Barrie Bates
Bill Davis 1-3 Mark Webster
Young/Davis 3-1 Webster/Bates
USA 3pts, Wales 1pt
GROUP B
SPAIN v USA
Carlos Rodriguez 3-2 Bill Davis
Antonio Alcinas 1-3 Darin Young
Rodriguez/Alcinas 3-1 Young/Davis
Spain 3pts, USA 1pt
SPAIN opened Group B's play with a thrilling victory over the USA, taking a 3-1 Doubles triumph to continue their impressive Cash Converters World Cup of Darts challenge.
The Spanish sent favourites England packing from the tournament in round two on Friday night, and Carlos Rodriguez and Antonio Alcinas kicked off their bid for a semi-final place in style against American pair Darin Young and Bill Davs.
Rodriguez edged out Davis to win the opening Singles game in five legs, finishing double top after Davis missed four doubles in the opening leg before the American finished 96 to level.
Davis also missed tops in the third before Rodriguez hit the same bed, and the Spaniard recovered from losing the fourth to hit a 180 and double top for the match.
Young gained revenge for Davis' loss with a 3-1 win over Alcinas, who took the opening leg of their Singles game with a 115 finish.
Alcinas also hit a 180 in the second leg to leave a finish, but Young took out a pressure 91 on tops, double six to break and then the fourth leg for victory.
Young gave the USA the lead in the Doubles tie on tops, but a brace of double ten finishes from Alcinas edged Spain ahead and Rodriguez gave them overall victory with a 120 checkout.
Match Stats
|
Spain |
3-1 |
USA |
|
31 |
100+ |
16 |
|
7 |
140+ |
8 |
|
3 |
180 |
0 |
|
28.28 |
Ave1 |
27.72 |
|
84.83 |
Ave3 |
83.17 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
120,115 |
High Finish |
96 |
WALES v SCOTLAND
Mark Webster 3-0 Robert Thornton
Barrie Bates 2-3 Gary Anderson
Webster/Bates 3-2 Anderson/Thornton
Wales 3pts, Scotland 1pt
WALES defeated Scotland in the deciding of their Doubles contest to take three points from their opening Group B contest, as Mark Webster and Barrie Bates made a fine start.
Left-hander Webster kicked off the Singles games with a 3-0 whitewash of Robert Thornton, averaging 96 in the game and hitting three from five attempts at a double.
Double ten gave the Welshman the opening leg, which he followed with a 180 and an 81 finish to double his lead, before double 12 ensured a flawless triumpgh.
Barrie Bates came close to completing a double, but went down 3-2 to Gary Anderson in their Singles contest.
After Anderson took out 84 on the bull for the game's opening leg, Bates won the next two, landing double 12 and then taking out 116 for a 2-1 lead.
However, Bates wasted two match darts in the next as Anderson recovered from earlier misses to level on double five, before hitting a 180 in the decider and double 18 to take the win.
Webster kicked off the Doubles by trading double top finishes with Anderson, before Bates edged Wales 2-1 up on double 16.
Thornton landed tops to force a deciding leg in the match, but Bates hit a 180 and then took out 88 to seal the points.
Match Stats
|
Wales |
3-1 |
Scotland |
|
22 |
100+ |
16 |
|
7 |
140+ |
9 |
|
2 |
180 |
2 |
|
29.46 |
Ave1 |
27.97 |
|
88.39 |
Ave3 |
83.91 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
1 |
|
116 |
High Finish |
84 |
SPAIN v WALES
Carlos Rodriguez 3-1 Barrie Bates
Antonio Alcinas 1-3 Mark Webster
Rodriguez/Alcinas 0-3 Webster/Bates
Wales 3pts, Spain 1pt
MARK WEBSTER showed his champion class to help Wales to a 3-1 victory against Spain in their second Group B game, improving the chances of him and Barrie Bates qualifying for Sunday's semi-finals.
The Welsh remain unbeaten after seeing off the Spanish, who took the opening Singles match when Carlos Rodriguez overcame Bates but saw Webster defeat Antonio Alcinas before guiding his side to a Doubles whitewash.
Rodriguez made a brilliant start to his Singles game with Bates, opening with a 123 bullseye finish and doubling his lead on tops.
Double nine gave Bates the third leg, but Rodriguez posted double eight in the fourth to take the point.
The second Singles clash, between Alcinas and Webster, started superbly when the pair hit five successive treble 20s each to open the game, only for the Welshman to miss seven darts at a double before Alcinas took the lead on double four.
Webster ended his run of double trouble to hit double two and level before landing double ten for a 2-1 lead.
Alcinas posted a 180 to leave a double in the fourth, but Webster produced a sensational 121 bullseye finish to take the win.
Bates gave Wales the early lead in the Doubles contest, and Webster posted double 12 for a 2-0 lead after an Alcinas 180 left 32 only for Rodriguez to miss three darts for the leg.
Alcinas also landed a maximum in the third, but both he and Rodriguez would miss their chances before Webster returned to complete a whitewash win on double two.
Match Stats
|
Spain |
1-3 |
Wales |
|
7 |
100+ |
23 |
|
7 |
140+ |
4 |
|
4 |
180 |
1 |
|
25.65 |
Ave1 |
26.98 |
|
76.94 |
Ave3 |
80.95 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
4 |
|
123 |
High Finish |
121 |
USA v SCOTLAND
Darin Young 2-3 Robert Thornton
Bill Davis 0-3 Gary Anderson
Young/Davis 2-3 Anderson/Thornton
Scotland 4pts, USA 0pts
SCOTLAND ended America's Cash Converters World Cup of Darts hopes when Gary Anderson won a thrilling Doubles clash in the deciding leg to give his team a 4-0 whitewash.
Both teams had lost their opening Group B games, but the USA responded well with Darin Young opening his Singles game with Robert Thornton by taking a 2-0 lead.
The left-hander finished double ten for the opening leg and, after Thornton missed the bull for a 130 checkout, landed double five to win the second.
Thornton got off the mark on double three, and after Young missed tops for the match in the fourth double ten levelled, before the Scot returned to take the win by hitting the same bed.
Gary Anderson produced the performance of the tournament to win the second Singles game 3-0 against Bill Davis, who was denied a dart at a double by a thrilling display by the Scot, who averaged 110.
Anderson opened with a 13-dart finish, ending on double top, and posted double nine for the second leg before hitting a 180 and an 81 finish to seal victory.
Anderson also proved the dominant player in the Doubles game, despite America taking the opening leg when Davis hit double six.
Scotland levelled and Anderson then posted a 180 in the third, which Thornton took with an 85 checkout.
Davis hit double ten to level and send the game into a decider, and a 180 from Young gave America hopes of snatching a win to draw the contest - only for Anderson to cruelly deny him by taking out 97 in two darts.
Match Stats
|
USA |
0-4 |
Scotland |
|
13 |
100+ |
21 |
|
10 |
140+ |
11 |
|
1 |
180 |
2 |
|
28.86 |
Ave1 |
32.07 |
|
86.58 |
Ave3 |
96.20 |
|
1 |
Legs Against Throw |
5 |
|
20 |
High Finish |
97 |
SPAIN v SCOTLAND
Carlos Rodriguez 0-3 Robert Thornton
Antonio Alcinas 3-2 Gary Anderson
Rodriguez/Alcinas 3-1 Anderson/Thornton
Spain 3pts, Scotland 1pt
SPAIN'S dream run in the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts has continued after they qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament, where they will compete alongside the Netherlands, Australia and Wales on Sunday.
The Spanish pair of Carlos Rodriguez and Antonio Alcinas caused a sensation when they knocked out England's Phil Taylor and James Wade in the second round on Friday night.
They followed that up with wins over the USA and Scotland in Group B to progress to the semi-finals of the £150,000 event at the Rainton Meadows Arena.
Their fate hinged on the deciding Doubles game of their clash with Scotland, which they won 3-1 to seal a semi-final berth.
That looked unlikely when Thornton wasted little time in defeating Rodriguez 3-0 in the opening Singles game.
Rodriguez missed two darts to win the opening leg, with Thornton hitting tops for the leg and repeating the trick for a 2-0 lead.
He also hit a 180 in the third to set up an 80 finish, which he also checked out on tops for a 100 percent doubles ratio in a whitewash triumph.
The second Singles game saw Alcinas face Anderson, who had averaged 110 in his previous Singles game against the USA but came up against a fine display from the newcomer.
Alcinas led on double 16 and missed double 18 for the second leg after the pair traded 180s, with Anderson hitting double 16.
Alcinas took the third on double ten but Anderson won leg four to force a decider - only to see the Spaniard pull away and post double two for the win.
Rodriguez made a superb start to the Doubles match with a 115 checkout, and double 12 put Spain 2-0 up.
Thornton hit double five to win the third leg for Spain, but Alcinas posted a timely 180 in the next before Rodriguez took out 71 for a stunning victory.
Match Stats
|
Spain |
3-1 |
Scotland |
|
18 |
100+ |
21 |
|
9 |
140+ |
8 |
|
2 |
180 |
2 |
|
31.69 |
Ave1 |
31.64 |
|
95.08 |
Ave3 |
94.93 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
3 |
|
115 |
High Finish |
80 |
USA v WALES
Darin Young 3-2 Barrie Bates
Bill Davis 1-3 Mark Webster
Young/Davis 3-1 Webster/Bates
USA 3pts, Wales 1pt
THE American pair of Darin Young and Bill Davis bowed out of the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts with victory against Wales, whose duo of Mark Webster and Barrie Bates progress to the semi-finals after picking up a point in their third contest.
Wales went into the game needing to avoid a 4-0 whitewash to knock out Scotland and book their own semi-final berth, and a Singles win for Mark Webster did just that as they set up a Sunday afternoon meeting with Australia at the Rainton Meadows Arena.
Darin Young inflicted a 3-2 defeat on Barrie Bates in the opening Singles game, with the American taking a 2-0 lead before Bates hit 180s in successive legs in drawing level.
Bates also hit a 180, his fourth of the game, in the decider, but missed his chances to take the win as Young posted double 14 to edge to victory.
Webster then took to the stage against Bill Davis, and although the left-hander took the opening leg he showed signs of tension with three missed doubles in the second as Davis levelled on double 15.
Webster, though, showed his class with an 11-darter to move 2-1 up before landing double top for the all-important win which sealed Wales' progression.
The Doubles game saw the Americans finish with a flourish, with the opening legs shared thanks to double ten finishes before misses from Webster and Bates allowed Young in on double two for the third, before he took out 110 for the win.
Match Stats
|
USA |
3-1 |
Wales |
|
12 |
100+ |
23 |
|
6 |
140+ |
3 |
|
2 |
180 |
5 |
|
26.57 |
Ave1 |
29.06 |
|
79.72 |
Ave3 |
87.18 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
110 |
High Finish |
80 x2 |
Final Table
| Group B |
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Points |
|
Wales |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
21 |
16 |
7 |
|
Spain |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
17 |
19 |
7 |
|
Scotland |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
20 |
18 |
6 |
|
USA |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
17 |
22 |
4 |
Semi-Final Fixtures (1pm Sunday)
Netherlands v Spain
Raymond van Barneveld v Antonio Alcinas
Co Stompe v Carlos Rodriguez
Raymond van Barneveld v Carlos Rodriguez
Co Stompe v Antonio Alcinas
van Barneveld/Stompe v Rodriguez/Alcinas
Wales v Australia
Mark Webster v Paul Nicholson
Barrie Bates v Simon Whitlock
Mark Webster v Simon Whitlock
Barrie Bates v Paul Nicholson
Webster/Bates v Whitlock/Nicholson