BetVictor World Cup of Darts, Round One (2) - England and Netherlands ease into round two

England and the Netherlands made big statements with their performances in round one of the World Cup, with both teams sporting new partnerships. 

Photo from sportinglife.com

China 1-5 USA

USA are through to the last 16 after ever-present Darin Young and Chuck Puleo eased to a 5-1 triumph over China's Xiaochen Zong and Yuanjun Liu.

Italy 3-5 Canada

Italy and Canada produced one of the best legs in the tournament, when debutant Jim Long took out 106 when Italy had left themselves 41 after a 180.

Long and his partner Dawson Murschell went on to seal an entertaining 5-3 victory over Andrea Micheletti and Stefano Tomassetti.

Poland 5-2 Czech Republic
Krzysztof Ratajski and Tytus Kanik of Poland were too strong for the Czech Republic's Karel Sedlacek and Pavel Jirkal, winning 5-2.
Sedlacek hit the highest checkout of the tournament so far in leg six with a 160, but Poland missed only four of nine darts at double in the match.

Republic of Ireland 5-1 Greece
William O'Connor and Steve Lennon set up a second round tie against England with a 5-1 win over Greece.
Ever-present at the World Cup, William O'Connor showed how much it means to win while representing your country, with exuberant celebrations throughout the tie against John Michael and Veniamin Symeonidis.

(1) England 5-1 Philippines
England dominated the Philippines to win 5-1 in their first round tie, with Michael Smith making his tournament debut.
He partnered 2018 world champion Rob Cross in his second World Cup, who kicked off with a 106 checkout in the first leg, before Smith hit all of the following doubles for England.
Lourence Ilagan and Noel Malicdem were tipped to be a banana skin for the new look England pair, but they only won one leg in the match.
England are looking to win the World Cup for a record fifth time, though neither of the partnership have ever lifted the trophy.

(8) Austria 5-3 Russia
Austria's Mensur Suljovic and Zoran Lerchbacher came from 3-1 down to eventually beat an in spired Russian team.
World Cup regular Boris Koltsov partnered with debutant Aleksey Kadochnikov for some impressive socring and finishing.
But the eighth seeds nicked it when Suljovic hit double 16 for a 13-darter, after Lerchbacher had took out 138 in the previous leg to take them to one leg from victory.

(5) Australia 5-4 Finland
Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson held their nerve in the deciding leg of their first round match with a 14-darter against Finland.
Simon Whitlock is looking to go one better than Australia's previous best in the tournament - runners-up in the nail-biting 2012 final.
Marko Kantele and Kim Vijanen played their part in an entertaining match, coming from 2-1 down to lead 3-2, before the Aussies levelled and hit a 13-dart leg to go one away from victory.
The Finns then forced the decider, in which Whitlock and Anderson both hit 140s before thw Wizard took out 70 in two darts for the win.

(4) Netherlands 5-0 Spain
Netherlands made a strong start to their title defence, whitewashing Spain's Toni Alcinas and Cristo Reyes.
Jermaine Wattimena made his World Cup debut, replacing the ever-present Raymond van Barneveld to partner Michael van Gerwen - who, like England, are looking for their fifth title.
World number 23 Wattimena fully justified his place in the team, hitting a 108 checkout in the first leg, which seemed to ease any nerves.
As a pair, Netherlands averaged almost 93, only giving Spain three darts at double.

Saturday Order of Play
Second Round - (Best of 3 points - two best-of-7-leg singles matches & one best-of-7 -leg doubles decider if required)
Afternoon Session

South Africa v New Zealand

Singapore v Japan

(2) Scotland v Sweden

(7) Belgium v Germany

Evening Session

(5) Australia v Canada

(8) Austria v USA

(1) England v Republic of Ireland

(4) Netherlands v Poland

Draw
Section One 
(1) England 5-1 Philippines
Republic of Ireland 5-1 Greece
(8) Austria 5-3 Russia
China 1-5 USA
=
(1) England v Republic of Ireland
(8) Austria v USA

Section Two
(5) Australia 5-4 Finland
Italy 3-5 Canada
(4) Netherlands 5-0 Spain
Poland 5-2 Czech Republic
=
(5) Australia v Canada
(4) Netherlands v Poland

Section Three
(2) Scotland 5-0 Denmark
Brazil 1-5 Sweden
(7) Belgium 5-1 Hong Kong 
Hungary 1-5 Germany
=
(2) Scotland v Sweden
(7) Belgium v Germany

Section Four 
(6) Northern Ireland 4-5 South Africa
New Zealand 5-1 Lithuania
(3) Wales 3-5 Singapore
Gibraltar 4-5 Japan
=
South Africa v New Zealand
Singapore v Japan

Day One Results and Report

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