World Cup of Darts: Last 16 Playoffs Results

Reigning Champions Wales Dumped Out, Belgium Thrashes Netherlands and Italy Pulls Off a Major Shock

The knockout stages of the 2024 World Cup of Darts delivered thrilling surprises as Italy stunned Australia, reigning champions Wales were eliminated, and the Netherlands suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Belgium.

Afternoon Session Highlights

The afternoon began with an exciting match between Czechia and Sweden. Czech players Gawlas and Sedlacek took an early 2-0 lead, but Sweden responded by winning four consecutive legs, leading 4-3 at the first break. Debutant Jeffrey De Graaf, though unable to replicate his earlier impressive average, contributed significantly alongside his teammate Lukasiak, who hit doubles in 6 out of 8 legs, securing Sweden’s 8-6 victory and a spot in the Quarter-Finals.

Next up, Austria’s duo of Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez aimed to regain their form against Chinese Taipei. They raced to a 4-0 lead, capitalizing on their opponents’ slow start. Despite a valiant effort from Pupo and Lu, who maintained an average of around 85, Austria finished strong with an 8-4 win, aiming to claim their first World Cup title.

In Game 3, Scotland, led by Peter Wright and Gary Anderson, showcased their dominance over Poland, winning the first five legs. With an impressive performance, they comfortably advanced to the quarterfinals with an 8-2 victory, proving they are strong contenders.

A major upset occurred as Italy faced Australia. Damon Heta struggled in the group stage, and both he and Simon Whitlock faltered against Italy’s Michelle Turetta and Massimo Della Rosa. Italy took an early 3-0 lead, and despite Australia’s attempts, their poor doubling (7/36) cost them. Della Rosa secured the stunning 8-7 win, marking Italy’s first entry into the knockout stages.

Evening Session Highlights

The host nation Germany clashed with a formidable Northern Ireland team. The match started with three 180s in the first leg, and Northern Ireland took a slim lead. Despite Germany’s comeback attempts, including a crucial 100 finish, Northern Ireland held their nerve. In a dramatic deciding leg, Josh Rock secured the 8-7 victory, silencing the Frankfurt crowd.

Top seeds England faced France, eager to avoid another 8-0 defeat like last year. Although France took an early 2-1 lead, England, led by debutant Luke Humphries, rallied with six consecutive legs, claiming an 8-3 win.

Reigning champions Wales faced a formidable challenge from Croatia after Gerwyn Price’s withdrawal. Croatia’s Krcmar and Grbavac took an early 3-1 lead, and Wales couldn’t recover, ultimately losing 8-6. Romeo Grbavac’s decisive finish sealed the historic upset, eliminating the defending champions.

In the final match, Netherlands played Belgium. Despite high averages from all players, Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts delivered two stunning bullseye finishes (121 and 129). Although the Netherlands excelled in scoring, Belgium’s superior doubling led them to an 8-2 victory, advancing them with a 96 average, four points lower than their opponents.