WALES stunned Australia with a sudden-death leg victory to win through to the final of the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts on Sunday afternoon, and will face the Netherlands in the decider following their semi-final victory over Spain.
Australian pair Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson looked set to progress to the final of the £150,000 event when they led 3-1 after the Singles games in their semi.
However, Mark Webster and Barrie Bates took a 6-5 win in their Doubles contest, earning two points to level the tie and force a sudden-death leg.
Whitlock kicked off the decider with a 180, but Bates sealed a sensational 12-dart leg with a 116 finish to put his side into the final - sparking joyous celebrations with Webster.
Dutch duo van Barneveld and Stompe will hope to go one better than their football counterparts, who lost in their World Cup final to Spain in the summer, and take the £40,000 first prize.
They had defeated darts' World Cup's surprise package Spain in the semis, with Carlos Rodriguez and Antonio Alcinas unable to repeat the form which had knocked out Japan, England and Scotland from the tournament as they lost all four Singles games to go down 4-0.
Alcinas came close to forcing a decisive Doubles game when he led 5-4 in the fourth Singles tie, but Stompe took the final two legs to secure Holland's passage into the final.
"It's a great relief to have won because Spain have been great, they beat England and Scotland," said van Barneveld. "I played a good game with a 103 average but Co played well too and we're on course to win this title now."
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Cash Converters World Cup of Darts
Sunday December 5
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Semi-Finals
Top two from each group on Saturday progress to semi-finals.
Winner Group A v Runner-Up Group B
Winner Group B v Runner-Up Group A
Netherlands v Spain
Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Antonio Alcinas
Co Stompe 6-3 Carlos Rodriguez
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Carlos Rodriguez
Co Stompe 6-5 Antonio Alcinas
van Barneveld/Stompe v Rodriguez/Alcinas - match not needed
Final Score: Netherlands 4pts, Spain 0pts
Wales v Australia
Mark Webster 6-5 Paul Nicholson
Barrie Bates 4-6 Simon Whitlock
Mark Webster 4-6 Simon Whitlock
Barrie Bates 3-6 Paul Nicholson
Webster/Bates 6-5 Whitlock/Nicholson
Current Score: Wales 3pts, Australia 3pts
Wales win sudden-death leg for victory
NETHERLANDS v SPAIN
Raymond van Barneveld made a brilliant start to the semi-final, averaging 103 in a 6-2 win over Antonio Alcinas to give the Netherlands a Singles point.
The Dutchman began superbly to win four of the opening five legs, hitting double 16 to win the opening leg after the Spanish newcomer missed the bull for a 170 finish and then firing in an 11-darter which was begun with back-to-back maximums.
Alcinas took the third on tops, but van Barneveld took legs of 13 and 12 darts to move 4-1 up, hitting another 180 in one leg and a 170 to leave a 92 finish in the next.
The Spaniard won the sixth on double top, but van Barneveld replied with a 180 in a 12-darter, before sealing victory in style with a 132 checkout of bull, bull and double 16.
Co Stompe followed van Barneveld's lead to defeat Carlos Rodriguez 6-3 in their opening Singles game.
Stompe opened with back-to-back 13-dart legs before Rodriguez won the third to get off the mark.
After the pair traded double top finishes, Stompe took out 97 before punishing six misses from his Spanish opponent to lead 5-2.
Rodriguez hit a 180 and a 79 finish to pull back to 5-3, but Stompe wrapped up victory on double ten.
Rodriguez returned to the stage to take on van Barneveld in their second game, but despite a valiant effort went down 6-4 as the Dutch took a three-point lead.
Van Barneveld finished 56 for the first leg and stepped in with a 112 checkout in the second, after Rodriguez hit a 180 but missed his chance to level.
Van Barneveld added a 104 finish for a 3-1 lead, and shared the next four to move 5-3 up, hitting an 11-darter in the process.
Rodriguez took out double four to stay in the game, but a 76 finish from van Barneveld sealed his second win of the afternoon.
That result left Antonio Alcinas needing to defeat Co Stompe in the fourth Singles game to keep the match alive and force a Doubles contest, and the 31-year-old from Majorca pushed his opponent all the way to a deciding leg.
Although Stompe took the opener, Alcinas finished 66 to level and took out a 13-darter to lead 2-1, before the pair traded 180s in the fourth as the Dutchman squared the game.
A 92 finish edged Stompe in front, only for Alcinas to take the next two and move 4-3 up.
Stompe levelled, only for Alcinas to take out 120 in moving a leg away from the win - but he would not get a dart to take victory as Stompe hit tops to force a decider in which he landed a 180 and double five to end Spain's challenge.
"It's a great relief to have won because Spain have been great, they beat England and Scotland," said van Barneveld. "I played a good game with a 103 average but Co played well too and we're on course to win this title now."
Stompe added: "That last result shows you can never give in, because I didn't play well during the game but I did my best and came good in the end."
Spain had overcome Japan and England on Friday before taking wins over the USA and Scotland in Saturday's Group Stage to reach the semis in the inaugural PDC World Cup, giving their emerging nation a huge boost.
"It's been a fantastic tournament for us both and we have really enjoyed it," said Rodriguez. "There are a lot of good players in Spain and this will encourage them."
Match Stats
|
Raymond van Barneveld |
6-2 |
Antonio Alcinas |
|
10 |
100+ |
13 |
|
5 |
140+ |
7 |
|
4 |
180 |
0 |
|
34.38 |
Ave1 |
30.45 |
|
103.14 |
Ave3 |
91.36 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
0 |
|
132 |
High Finish |
57 |
|
Co Stompe |
6-3 |
Carlos Rodriguez |
|
12 |
100+ |
9 |
|
6 |
140+ |
4 |
|
1 |
180 |
3 |
|
29.77 |
Ave1 |
27.53 |
|
89.31 |
Ave3 |
82.59 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
0 |
|
100 |
High Finish |
79 |
|
Raymond van Barneveld |
6-4 |
Carlos Rodriguez |
|
12 |
100+ |
11 |
|
9 |
140+ |
5 |
|
2 |
180 |
4 |
|
31.92 |
Ave1 |
29.98 |
|
95.75 |
Ave3 |
89.94 |
|
1 |
Legs Against Throw |
0 |
|
112,104 |
High Finish |
52 |
|
Co Stompe |
6-5 |
Antonio Alcinas |
|
18 |
100+ |
20 |
|
5 |
140+ |
6 |
|
4 |
180 |
2 |
|
31.64 |
Ave1 |
30.88 |
|
94.92 |
Ave3 |
92.64 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
92 |
High Finish |
120 |
WALES v AUSTRALIA
Mark Webster edged a deciding leg to take victory over Paul Nicholson in the opening Singles game of Wales' semi-final against Australia.
The left-hander never led until he won the final leg of the game, as Nicholson produced a strong display but failed to close out victory.
Although Webster opened the game with a 180, Nicholson took the leg on double four and moved 2-0 up on tops, before the Welshman finished 68 for the third.
Nicholson checked out 64 for a 3-1 lead, but Webster hit maximum scores of 177 and 180 in taking the next two to level the game, with Nicholson paying for misses in the sixth leg.
A 121 finish edged the Australian back ahead, and after Webster won the eighth a double 16 gave him a 5-4 lead and put him to the brink of victory.
Nicholson hit a 180 in the tenth, but Webster replied with a 168 which set up double ten to force a decider, and after the Australian missed double top for a 110 game shot he stepped in on double ten again to sneak the win.
Simon Whitlock produced the performance of the tournament to defeat a battling Barrie Bates 6-4 - hitting six 180s and a 107 average in a brilliant display.
Whitlock hit three 12-darts for his first three winning legs in the game, landing a maximum in each and finishes of 170 and 124 - but found himself level with Bates, who shared the opening six legs.
Whitlock won the seventh with an 11-darter, and after Bates missed his chance to level he posted double nine for a 5-3 advantage.
Double top pulled the Welshman back to within a leg, but another 180 from Whitlock pushed him clear in the tenth and double eight sealed a point to level the match.
Whitlock returned to the stage for the third Singles match, and defeated Webster by the same scoreline with another ton-plus average, as he also took out finishes of 164 and 130.
Webster himself posted a 119 checkout for the opening leg, before Whitlock posted double eight to level and a brilliant 164 finish to lead.
Webster hit back on double six and also led by winning the fifth - before also moving 4-3 up by taking the seventh.
Double eight in the eighth levelled the game, after Whitlock hit a 180 and Webster posted a 177 score, and an 84 finish pushed the Australian in front 5-4 before he took out 130 on the bull to seal the win.
Paul Nicholson won the fourth Singles game 6-3 against Barrie Bates, ensuring the tie would go into a decisive Doubles contest.
Nicholson won three of the opening four legs to take command of the game, with Bates finishing 120 to get off the mark and taking out 80 to pull back to 3-2.
The next two were shared before Nicholson landed double ten for a 5-3 cushion, and when Bates missed tops for another 120 finish the Australian completed the win by hitting the same bed.
Australia went into the Doubles game 3-1 up in the semi-final, but it was Wales who brilliantly forced a sudden-death leg with a 6-5 victory.
Wales led 2-0 before Whitlock hit a 171 score and double six to win the third, but Bates landed double nine for a 3-1 cushion.
Australia hit back to level, and traded double top finishes with Wales to join them at four-all before Webster opened the ninth with a 180 and finished it with a 106 checkout to move his side 5-4 up - and to the brink of forcing a sudden-death leg to win the semi.
Nicholson checked out 100 for the tenth leg to ensure a decider in the tie, with Webster and Whitlock trading 180s before Webster held his nerve to land double ten, taking victory for his team and two points to level the tie.
Whitlock won the bullseye to give Australia the throw in the sudden-death leg, but Wales stayed on their tails with a pair of 140s before Bates took out 116 to incredibly snatch victory.
"To be 3-1 down then win the Doubles match and a sudden-death leg was unbelievable," said Webster. "The checkout at the end was quality darts from Barrie and it was an unreal feeling.
"It mans a lot to play for my country and it would be a massive achievement for us to win this tournament. We think we can win it, and after this win there's no reason we can't we go all the way.
"Raymond and Co are great players and did a good professional job against Spain earlier, but me and Barrie may have the momentum now and we'll take the same attitude into the final that we've had throughout this event."
Match Stats
|
Mark Webster |
6-5 |
Paul Nicholson |
|
15 |
100+ |
16 |
|
5 |
140+ |
7 |
|
2 |
180 |
4 |
|
29.39 |
Ave1 |
32.05 |
|
88.17 |
Ave3 |
96.16 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
1 |
|
68 |
High Finish |
121 |
|
Barrie Bates |
4-6 |
Simon Whitlock |
|
13 |
100+ |
10 |
|
9 |
140+ |
8 |
|
0 |
180 |
6 |
|
30.15 |
Ave1 |
35.92 |
|
90.45 |
Ave3 |
107.77 |
|
0 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
72 |
High Finish |
170,124 |
|
Mark Webster |
4-6 |
Simon Whitlock |
|
11 |
100+ |
13 |
|
6 |
140+ |
13 |
|
0 |
180 |
1 |
|
31.53 |
Ave1 |
33.45 |
|
94.60 |
Ave3 |
100.36 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
3 |
|
119 |
High Finish |
164,130 |
|
Barrie Bates |
3-6 |
Paul Nicholson |
|
10 |
100+ |
8 |
|
11 |
140+ |
9 |
|
0 |
180 |
1 |
|
28.83 |
Ave1 |
31.81 |
|
86.49 |
Ave3 |
95.44 |
|
0 |
Legs Against Throw |
3 |
|
120 |
High Finish |
56 |
|
Mark Webster/Barrie Bates |
6-5 |
Simon Whitlock/Paul |
|
21 |
100+ |
12 |
|
7 |
140+ |
7 |
|
2 |
180 |
3 |
|
30.09 |
Ave1 |
30.34 |
|
90.28 |
Ave3 |
91.03 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
1 |
|
116,106 |
High Finish |
100 |