ENGLAND OFF TO FLIER IN BWIN WORLD CUP OF DARTS BID
ENGLAND'S Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis began their bid to win the bwin World Cup of Darts title for a third successive year with a 5-0 whitewash of Thailand on Friday night, as Holland, Australia and Belgium joined them in the second round in Hamburg.
Taylor and Lewis have teamed up to claim the pairs title at the Sporthalle Hamburg for the past two years, and denied debutants Thanawat Gaweenuntawong & Watanyu Charoonroj a dart at a double in a dominant first round victory.
The duo will now play American pair Darin Young and Larry Butler in the second round on Saturday, with Taylor in a relaxed and confident mood as he seeks to inspire England's football team to World Cup glory by completing his own hat-trick.
"We're coming up on stage nice and relaxed, but we're trying our socks off and we want to be the first English team to win a World Cup this summer," said Taylor.
"We put in a good performance but we've got to be better on Saturday against the USA, We're happy with the 5-0 because we wanted to send a message out to the rest of the lads, and we showed that we're beginning to gel as a team and we're a happy partnership."
Lewis bullishly added: "It would be massive to win this for a third time a row, and if we both click, there's only one winner in this tournament.
"The Dutch guys have been winning most things for the last six months so we want to put the record straight. We have to take it on the chin and make sure we win this because we believe we're the better players."
The Dutch duo of World Champion Michael van Gerwen and new Premier League Darts champion Raymond van Barneveld dropped only two legs as they defeated Italian duo Marco Brentegani and Daniele Petri with the help of an 11-dart leg.
They now play Spain in the second round, with van Barneveld aiming to emulate his 2010 World Cup triumph alongside Co Stompe on Sunday night.
"It was great to win in 2010 and it would mean a lot to win this again," said van Barneveld. "We can win it, but we have to play well and it will be an exciting match tomorrow.
"You couldn't pick a better partner and Michael's on fire at the moment. He's fantastic and such a great player to team up with, and he did all the work tonight."
Former finalists Wales, Australia and Belgium all progressed to the last 16 of the tournament with victories in Friday's first round, although they enjoyed varying degrees of difficulty in their wins.
Welsh duo Mark Webster and Richie Burnett had to come from 2-0 and 4-3 down as they avoided a huge upset against French debutants Jacques Labre and Lionel Maranhao with a narrow 5-4 victory.
Australian pair Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson defeated Danish duo Per Laursen and Dennis Lindskjold 5-2, while Belgian brothers Kim and Ronny Huybrechts whitewashed Indian newcomers Amit Gilitwala and Nitan Kumar.
Scotland's Peter Wright and Robert Thornton came from a leg down to Russia's Evgenii Zhukov and Evgenii Izotov before sealing a 5-1 victory with a 106 finish from World Championship finalist Wright.
Nothern Ireland's Brendan Dolan and Michael Mansell also endured some nervy moments before defeating Malaysia 5-2, with Kesava Roa and Thomat Darus sharing the game's opening four legs.
Ireland were one of four seeded nations to be knocked out of the £200,000 event as Connie Finnan and William O'Connor went down 5-3 to Singapore's Paul Lim and Harith Lim, who won four successive legs from being 3-1 down.
Host nation Germany also crashed out as Jyhan Artut and Andree Welge were defeated 5-3 by South Africa's Devon Petersen and Graham Filby, who stormed out of the blocks to take a 3-0 lead before holding their advantage to claim the win and set up a clash with Singapore in round two.
"I was nervous but I felt good," said Filby, a star of his country's domestic circuit making his World Cup debut. "I've always wanted to play with Devon and got the opportunity here, and I want to make my breakthrough."
Petersen, who is competing in his third World Cup of Darts, said: "The stage is where I enjoy my darts best, the fans really make the sport great and it's amazing to be back.
"It was like having a brother on stage. Graham's been ranked number one in South Africa while I was injured and I knew he'd be good on stage, and he took to it like a duck to water.
"You can only progress when you're in the competition, and we're still in. On our day anyone can win this tournament."
Finland, who won through to last year's semi-finals of the World Cup of Darts, were shock 5-4 losers to Polish duo Krzysztof Chmielewski & Krzysztof Strozyk, as the debutants came from 3-1 down to claim victory in the deciding leg with a 120 checkout.
Japan's Morihiro Hashimoto and Haruki Muramatsu also won in a deciding leg as they came from 5-4 to win against Canada's John Part and Shaun Narain, who missed a combined total of seven match darts before agonisingly losing out.
American duo Darin Young and Larry Butler impressed with a 5-1 win over Hungary's Nandor Bezzeg and Zsolt Meszaros, as the experienced pair set up a tasty second round clash with England on Saturday night.
"We play well together," said left-hander Young. "We've got the utmost confidence in each other and we play together regularly in Doubles matches back home, and we fancy our chances here."
Spanish duo Antonio Alcinas and Carlos Rodriguez showed glimpses of the form which took them to the 2010 World Cup of Darts semi-finals as they defeated the New Zealand pairing of Rob Szabo and Craig Caldwell.
The Kiwis led 3-2 at one stage, but Rodriguez took out 90 and 124 in successive legs to turn the game before Alcinas hit a 180 and his partner landed tops to claim the win.
Experienced Magnus Caris partnered newcomer Peter Sajwani to victory for Sweden as they defeated Gibraltar's Dylan Duo and Dyson Parody 5-2, with Hong Kong and Austria enjoying victory by the same scoreline against Norway and China respectively.
Hong Kong's Ting Chi Royden Lam and Scott Mackenzie now progress to face Australia, while Austrian duo Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez - the recent PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship finalist - will take on Belgium in round two.
The second round features a mixture of Singles and Doubles games as the players bid to claim places in Sunday's final stages at the Sporthalle Hamburg.
The bwin World Cup of Darts will be screened live worldwide through the following territories:
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bwin World Cup of Darts
Friday June 6
Afternoon Session
First Round
Finland (12) 4-5 Poland
USA (16) 5-1 Hungary
Hong Kong (13) 5-2 Norway
Austria (10) 5-2 China
Sweden (14) 5-2 Gibraltar
Canada (11) 4-5 Japan
Germany (9) 3-5 South Africa
Spain (15) 5-3 New Zealand
Evening Session
First Round
Republic of Ireland (8) 3-5 Singapore
Wales (5) 5-4 France
Belgium (7) 5-0 India
Northern Ireland (6) 5-2 Malaysia
Scotland (3) 5-1 Russia
England (1) 5-0 Thailand
Netherlands (2) 5-2 Italy
Australia (4) 5-2 Denmark
Best of Nine Legs, 501 Doubles
For full tournament information and Second Round fixtures, see our NetZone
MATCH INFORMATION
AFTERNOON SESSION
Finland v Poland
Jarkko Komula & Jani Haavisto v Krzysztof Chmielewski & Krzysztof Strozyk
1-0 - Komula and Chmielewski both miss darts at tops before Haavisto hits the bed to win the opening leg.
2-0 - Both Polish players miss doubles to allow Haavisto in to double Finland's lead on double 16.
2-1 - Strozyk finishes 64 on double eight to get Poland off the mark.
3-1 - Strozyk fires in a 180, but Haavisto replies with a maximum before hitting tops to move Finland two legs clear again.
3-2 - Strozyk takes out 70 on the bull to give Poland their second leg.
3-3 - Poland break throw, with Chmielewski landing double ten.
3-4 - Double top from Chmielewski helps Poland move ahead with a third successive leg.
4-4 - Haavisto sends the game into a deciding leg by landing double five, with Strozyk missing three match darts at double eight.
4-5 - Haavisto opens the final leg with a 180, but the Finns are left waiting on 58 as Chmielewski takes out 120 to claim victory.
USA v Hungary
Darin Young & Larry Butler v Zsolt Meszaros & Nandor Bezzeg
1-0 - Young finishes double 12 to win the opening leg for America.
2-0 - Young lands a 180 and the returns to finish double five to move the Americans two legs up.
3-0 - The Americans break throw again with a superb 12-dart leg, with Butler hitting a 140, Young landing a 180, Butler firing in a 165 and Young finishing double four.
3-1 - Bezzeg scores 180 and 134 to put Hungary first to a finish, with Meszaros missing double 18 for a 144 finish but later returning to pin double four to claim his nation's first leg.
4-1 - Young finishes 52 on tops to move America a leg away from the second round.
5-1 - Butler takes out 86 to complete and impressive win for the Americans, who average 94.15 in a fine victory.
Hong Kong v Norway
Ting Chi Royden Lam & Scott Mackenzie v Robert Wagner & Vegar Elvevoll
1-0 - Both Wagner and Elvevoll miss darts to win the opening leg, allowing Lam in to land double four.
2-0 - Elvevoll misses two darts at double 16, allowing Mackenzie in to finish 82 on double top to double Hong Kong's lead.
3-0 - Mackenzie again posts double top as Hong Kong move three legs clear.
3-1 - Elvevoll lands double 16 to give Norway their first leg of the game.
4-1 - Mackenzie posts a 177 score, before Lam lands double 16 to move Hong Kong to the brink of victory.
4-2 - Lam opens the leg with a 180, but Wagner keeps Norway's hopes alive with a superb 133 checkout.
5-2 - Mackenzie seals Hong Kong's place in the second round by hitting double eight.
Austria v China
Mensur Suljovic & Rowby-John Rodriguez v Yin Deng & Jun Cai
1-0 - Suljovic takes out 54 to win the opening leg for Austria.
2-0 - Rodriguez finishes double six to break throw and double their lead.
3-0 - Suljovic hits double eight to win a third successive leg for Austria.
3-1 - Rodriguez misses the bull for a 121 finish, allowing Yin in to finish double eight to get China off the mark.
4-1 - Rodriguez finishes a fine 95 checkout on double eight.
4-2 - Jun finishes double two to win a second leg for China
5-2 - Rodriguez seals victory for Austria by finishing double five.
Sweden v Gibraltar
Magnus Caris & Peter Sajwani v Dylan Duo & Dyson Parody
1-0 - Sweden initially miss six darts at a double, but Duo is unable to set up tops when needing 78, allowing Sajwani back in on double five to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Duo takes out double 17 with his third dart as he levels.
2-1 - Sweden miss their chance to claim the leg with missed doubles in four visits, but Duo misses two darts at tops to steal the leg, and Sajwani lands double one to finally win the leg.
3-1 - Duo misses the bull to level the game, and Caris posts double ten to move Sweden two legs clear with a break of throw.
4-1 - Caris takes out 92 to move Sweden to the edge of victory.
4-2 - Parody is off-target on the bull to take out 72, but Sajwani misses two darts at tops for the match to allow Duo back in to finish double six.
5-2 - Caris shows his experience by landing the killer double 16 to take Sweden into the second round.
Canada v Japan
John Part & Shaun Narain v Morihiro Hashimoto & Haruki Muramatsu
1-0 - Canada make a confident start with a 15-dart leg, with Part finishing 61 on double eight.
1-1 - Muramatsu finishes 80 on tops to level for Japan.
2-1 - Narain finishes double top to move Canada back ahead.
2-2 - Hashimoto initially misses his chance to level, but Narain is unable to finish double top and ten and Muramatsu takes out double eight with his third dart.
3-2 - Part lands a 180, and when Hashimoto misses two darts to move Japan ahead, the three-time World Champion returns on tops to edge Canada back in front.
4-2 - Part again capitalises on Japanese missed doubles as he takes out 76 on tops to move Canada a leg away from the win.
4-3 - Narain misses tops for a 135 checkout to claim victory, and Hashimoto holds his nerve to finish double four to keep Japan's hopes alive.
4-4 - Both Part and Narain agonisingly miss three darts apiece at double top, allowing Muramatsu to land double five to send the game into a deciding leg.
4-5 - Hashimoto takes out 60 on tops to complete Japan's comeback as they punish seven missed match darts from Canada to claim the win.
Germany v South Africa
Jyhan Artut & Andree Welge v Devon Petersen & Graham Filby
0-1 - South Africa make a confident start with a 15-dart leg as Petersen takes out 101.
0-2 - Petersen takes out 76 on double 18 to break throw.
0-3 - South Africa's stunning start continues, with Petersen opening with a 180 before Filby finishes 121 on double 18 for a 12-dart leg.
1-3 - Welge gets Germany off the makr by finishing double two with his third dart at the bed.
2-3 - Filby misses the bull for a 170 checkout, and Petersen is then off-target on double 16 and double eight, allowing Artut to take out 80 on double ten.
2-4 - Petersen takes out double 16 as he takes South Africa to the brink of victory.
3-4 - South Africa set up 64, but Welge takes out 110 on tops to keep the game alive, much to the delight of the home crowd.
3-5 - Petersen scores 150 to leave 36, and when Welge is unable to finish 100, Filby steps up to hit double 18 for the win - South Africa ending with an impressive 97.40 average.
Spain v New Zealand
Antonio Alcinas & Carlos Rodriguez v Rob Szabo & Craig Caldwell
1-0 - Both nations initially miss doubles to win the opening leg, as Rodriguez steps in to edge Spain ahead.
1-1 - Szabo levels the game for New Zealand, opening with a 180 before finishing 86.
1-2 - Rodriguez misses the bull for a 118 finish, allowing Szabo back in to finish tops and move New Zealand ahead.
2-2 - Rodriguez lands double ten for a 60 finish as he levels.
2-3 - Rodriguez misses double 15 for a 90 finish, and Szabo steps in to take out double eight for New Zealand.
3-3 - Rodriguez this time takes out 90, on double top, as he levels the game.
4-3 - Caldwell fires in a 177 score, but Rodriguez replies with a 180 before finishing 124 on double 11 to break throw for Spain.
5-3 - Alcinas lands a 180, and Rodriguez hits double top to secure Spain's passage into the second round.
EVENING SESSION
Ireland v Singapore
Connie Finnan & William O'Connor v Paul Lim & Harith Lim
1-0 - Finnan posts double 16 to put Ireland ahead.
2-0 - In a repeat of the opening leg, Finnan hits double 16.
3-0 - Finnan lands a 180 before eventually claiming the leg on double two, after both O'Connor and Paul Lim missed doubles.
3-1 - Harith Lim takes out 80 to get Singapore off the mark.
3-2 - The debutant pins double 18 to hit back with a break of throw for Singapore.
3-3 - Veteran star Paul Lim levels the game, landing a 180 and then taking out 78 in two darts.
3-4 - Harith Lim takes out 87 on double 18 to move Singapore ahead with a fourth successive leg.
3-5 - Paul Lim fires in another 180 to leave 73, and his partner takes out the finish on double eight to complete a brilliant victory for Singapore.
Wales v France
Mark Webster & Richie Burnett v Jacques Labre & Lionel Maranhao
0-1 - Labre wins the opening leg by hitting double top.
0-2 - The Welsh duo miss seven darts at doubles as the go around the board, allowing Maranhao in to take out 58.
1-2 - Burnett pins double 16 at the first time of asking this time around, as the Welsh get off the mark.
2-2 - Webster fires in double ten to level the game.
3-2 - Webster posts the game's first 180, and when Maranhao misses a dart at tops, Burnett hits the bed to move Wales ahead.
3-3 - Webster misses a dart at tops for a 120 finish, and Burnett is off-target with three darts at double ten to allow Maranhao in on double eight.
3-4 - Maranhao posts double eight to move France back ahead.
4-4 - The Welsh force a decider, landing a second 180 of the game before Webster hits tops to keep their hopes alive.
5-4 - Burnett hits double ten to complete Wales' comeback as they sneak into the last 16.
Belgium v India
Kim & Ronny Huybrechts v Amit Gilitwala & Nitan Kumar
1-0 - Double 18 puts the Huybrechts brothers ahead.
2-0 - The 2013 finalists double their lead, with Kim landing a 180 before older brother Ronny hits double 15.
3-0 - Kim posts double 18 to move Belgium three legs clear.
4-0 - Kim hits two 180s in the leg, and Ronny finishes double 16 to complete an 11-dart leg.
5-0 - Ronny seals a whitewash win by taking out 48 on double 16, with the Belgians taking out 5/8 darts at a double and denying their debutant opponents a dart at a finish during the whitewash.
Northern Ireland v Malaysia
Brendan Dolan & Michael Mansell v Kesava Roa & Thomat Darus
1-0 - Dolan opens the game with a 180 before Darus lands a maximum, but Mansell claims the opening leg on tops to complete a 12-darter.
1-1 - Mansell misses double 16 and Dolan misses three further darts to win the leg, and Roa takes out double 16 to level.
2-1 - Dolan finishes a brilliant 158 with two treble 20s and double 19.
2-2 - Mansell hits a 180, but both Dolan and the left-hander miss their chance to win the leg, and Roa lands tops to level.
3-2 - Dolan posts a maximum before taking out 78 on tops to move Northern Ireland back ahead.
4-2 - Northern Ireland complete a 14-darter, with Dolan hitting double six.
5-2 - Mansell fires in a maximum, and Dolan lands double top to secure the win.
Scotland v Russia
Peter Wright & Robert Thornton v Evgenii Zhukov & Evgenii Izotov
0-1 - Wright misses tops and two darts at double ten, to allow Zhukov in on double four to break and put Russia ahead.
1-1 - Thornton lands double ten to level the game.
2-1 - Wright lands a 180 before eventually winning the leg on double five, after Scotland continue to struggle with missed doubles.
3-1 - Wright takes out 101 on double 16 to move Scotland two legs clear.
4-1 - Thornton misses double 16 to finish 149, but Wright returns to hit the bed and take Scotland a leg away from victory.
5-1 - Wright finishes 106 to complete the win for Scotland with their fifth successive leg.
England v Thailand
Phil Taylor & Adrian Lewis v Thanawat Gaweenuntawong & Watanyu Charoonroj
1-0 - Lewis claims first blood as he lands double 16 to win the opening leg.
2-0 - Lewis misses the bull to finish 90, but Taylor mops up the 25 on double eight.
3-0 - Thanawat hits a 180 to leave 16, but Lewis takes out double four to move England three legs clear.
4-0 - Both Taylor and Lewis initially miss doubles to win the leg, before Taylor returns on double four to move England a leg away from the win.
5-0 - Taylor posts two 135 scores, and Lewis adds a 180 before the 16-time World Champion seals a whitewash win on double one.
Netherlands v Italy
Michael van Gerwen & Raymond van Barneveld v Marco Brentegani & Daniele Petri
1-0 - van Barneveld pins double 16 to win the game's opening leg.
2-0 - van Gerwen takes out 72 on tops to double the 2010 winners' advantage.
3-0 - The Dutch pull clear and have enough cushion for van Gerwen to miss doubles before his partner van Barneveld finishes double one for the leg.
3-1 - Petri posts double eight to get the Italians off the mark.
3-2 - Both Dutch players waste chances to win the leg, as Petri steps in on double 18 to reduce the gap to one leg.
4-2 - The Netherlands pull away again with a superb 11-darter, with van Gerwen opening with a 180 and adding a 140 and van Barneveld posting a 125 score before finishing double top.
5-2 - van Gerwen fires in double six to seal victory for the Netherlands.
Australia v Denmark
Simon Whitlock & Paul Nicholson v Per Laursen & Dennis Lindskjold
1-0 - Nicholson posts double five to take the game's opening leg, after Lindskjold misses double seven for an 88 finish.
2-0 - Nicholson finishes double eight to win the second leg.
2-1 - Whitlock misses the bull to take out 170, allowing Denmark in to open their account.
3-1 - Whitlock pins double ten with his third dart at the bed as he regains Australia's cushion.
3-2 - Whitlock opens with a 180 but Laursen finishes 102 on tops to hit back for Denmark.
4-2 - Nicholson takes out 66 on double nine as he moves Australia a leg away from victory.
5-2 - Whitlock finishes 104 on double top to secure Australia's place in the second round.