Super Scotland win Cazoo World Cup of Darts

Cazoo World Cup of Darts (Kais Bodensieck, PDC Europe)

Scotland secured glory at the Cazoo World Cup of Darts for a second time as Peter Wright and John Henderson defeated Austria's Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez 3-1 in Sunday's final.

Wright had linked up with Gary Anderson to win the World Cup two years ago, and this time helped ensure the greatest day of Henderson's career as they scooped the £70,000 top prize.

The pair had seen off China and Poland to win through to Sunday's final stages, and overcame two former champions to continue their title bid.

They firstly came from one point behind to win their quarter-final against the Netherlands in a dramatic sudden-death leg of their Doubles decider against Michael van Gerwen and Dirk van Duijvenbode.

The duo then ended Wales' title defence in a brilliant semi-final which also went to a sudden-death leg in their Doubles contest.

Austria, meanwhile, survived three missed match darts from Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan in a sudden-death leg in their quarter-final and then defeated England 2-0 to reach their first World Cup final.

Suljovic got Austria off to a flying start in the final by defeating Henderson 4-1 - hitting a 160 finish along the way - only for Wright to overcome Rodriguez by the same scoreline to level.

A dramatic Doubles tie saw Austria open up a 3-0 lead, only to miss five match darts as Scotland pulled back level.

Suljovic then missed two darts at tops in the deciding leg as Henderson held his nerve on double ten to put Scotland 2-1 up and one tie away from victory.

That came in the next Singles clash, as Wright opened up a 2-0 lead over Suljovic and also took out 156 before holding off his rival's fightback to finish double 16 and seal glory for the Scots.

Scotland - Cazoo World Cup of Darts (Kais Bodensieck, PDC Europe)

"To go back home as World Cup champions, I'm speechless," admitted Henderson. "To win this means everything - it's my first PDC title and it's been an honour to play with Peter.

"How he kept his nerve in that last game I don't know. It's been a team effort but I think we've been the best side throughout the whole tournament. 

"It's a team game but he's a legend. I've got to thank Peter for everything he's done this week and all the advice.

"He has mentored me and I can't thank him enough. He's captained me so well and looked after me this weekend, and I believe his captaincy won this for us."

The victory was the biggest of Henderson's career and also secures him a spot in November's Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts.

"It's fantastic for Scotland and I'm going to enjoy this," he said. "Hopefully I can kick-start my own career and this is the start of many things to come."

Scotland - Cazoo World Cup of Darts (Kais Bodensieck, PDC Europe)

Wright had won the World Matchplay in July and Sunday's success in Jena ensured back-to-back TV titles and his second World Cup success.

"It means so much to me," said an emotional world number two. "Every time I play I'm putting everything on the line.

"We had the hardest draw but John helped to carry me through. He stood up proud and hit the doubles to get us into the final.

"It was a privilege to play with him - John's going to take over the world now like Jonny Clayton did after winning it last year."

The Austrian duo have also put themselves in provisional qualifying places for the Grand Slam of Darts after they enjoyed their country's best-ever World Cup campaign.

For Suljovic, the weekend in Jena was a successful return to the big stage after missing the World Matchplay through illness.

"It's a brilliant feeling," said Suljovic. "I'm so happy I'm back.

"After three months out I said I would give my best but asked Rowby to help me. I'm so happy to be in the final with my best friend."

Rodriguez, meanwhile, was appearing in his first televised final since the 2014 World Youth Championship decider, and is hoping to use the success as a springboard for his career.

"Of course if you lose the final you're disappointed, but for me there's happiness to get to the final," said Rodriguez.

"We didn't expect anything - we were not seeded and we went to the final. If you're in the final you want to be the champion, but unfortunately we didn't.

"I played really good in the semi-final but I didn't play my game in the final. We shouldn't have lost the Doubles game when we were 3-0 up."

England's James Wade and Dave Chisnall ended host nation Germany's hopes in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 success as they dropped just one leg against Gabriel Clemens and Max Hopp.

Wales had continued their title defence with a 2-0 quarter-final defeat of Australia, although they required a 144 checkout from Clayton to snatch victory in the second Singles tie against Damon Heta.

2021 Cazoo World Cup of Darts
Sunday September 12
Afternoon Session 

Quarter-Finals
Austria 2-1 Northern Ireland
Singles One: Mensur Suljovic 3-4 Brendan Dolan 
Singles Two: Rowby-John Rodriguez 4-2 Daryl Gurney 
Doubles: Austria 4-3 Northern Ireland 

England 2-0 Germany
Singles One: James Wade 4-1 Gabriel Clemens
Singles Two: Dave Chisnall 4-0 Max Hopp
Doubles (not required): 

Wales 2-0 Australia
Singles One: Gerwyn Price 4-1 Simon Whitlock
Singles Two: Jonny Clayton 4-3 Damon Heta 
Doubles (not required): 

Netherlands 1-2 Scotland
Singles One: Michael van Gerwen 4-1 John Henderson
Singles Two: Dirk van Duijvenbode 1-4 Peter Wright
Doubles: Netherlands 3-4 Scotland

Evening Session 
Semi-Finals
England 0-2 Austria
Singles One: James Wade 1-4 Mensur Suljovic
Singles Two: Dave Chisnall 1-4 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Doubles (not required): 

Wales 1-2 Scotland
Singles One: Gerwyn Price 2-4 John Henderson
Singles Two: Jonny Clayton 4-2 Peter Wright
Doubles: Wales 3-4 Scotland

Final
Austria 1-3 Scotland
Singles One: Mensur Suljovic 4-1 John Henderson
Singles Two: Rowby-John Rodriguez 1-4 Peter Wright
Doubles: Austria 3-4 Scotland
Singles Three: Mensur Suljovic 2-4 Peter Wright
Singles Four (not required): Rowby-John Rodriguez v John Henderson

Quarter-Finals Round-Up
Daryl Gurney - Cazoo World Cup of Darts (Kais Bodensieck, PDC Europe)

Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez secured a first Cazoo World Cup of Darts semi-final for Austria as Northern Ireland suffered heartbreak in a sensational opening to Sunday's action.

The Singles ties were shared as Brendan Dolan edged out Suljovic 4-3 before Rodriguez averaged almost 100 as he defeated Gurney 4-2.

The Doubles contest went all the way in a see-saw contest, before Rodriguez initially missed double 16 to claim victory for Austria in the deciding - and sudden-death - leg.

However, Dolan missed three darts at double 12 and six to claim victory for the Northern Irish, and Suljovic returned to land double 16 in a stunning finale.

James Wade - Cazoo World Cup of Darts (Kais Bodensieck, PDC Europe)

England's James Wade and Dave Chisnall cruised into a semi-final tie with Austria by defeating Germany's Gabriel Clemens and Max Hopp 2-0.

Wade averaged 101 and hit four doubles from six attempts - including a 130 finish - as he came from a leg down to defeat Clemens 4-1 in their opening tie.

Chisnall then finished four doubles from seven attempts in his 4-0 whitewash of Hopp to keep England on track to claim a fifth World Cup title.

Gerwyn Price - Cazoo World Cup of Darts (Kais Bodensieck, PDC Europe)

Wales continued their World Cup title defence with a 2-0 defeat of Australia - ending Simon Whitlock and Damon Heta's hopes of claiming glory in memory of Kyle Anderson.

Gerwyn Price set the reigning champions on their way with a 4-1 defeat of Whitlock in the opening Singles tie, sealing the win with a 123 checkout.

Heta battled bravely in his bid to force a Doubles decider as his Singles contest with Jonny Clayton went all the way to a seventh leg, but the Welshman finished a brilliant 144 to seal their place in the last four.

John Henderson - Cazoo World Cup of Darts (Kais Bodensieck, PDC Europe)

Scotland's John Henderson and Peter Wright edged out Netherlands' Michael van Gerwen and Dirk van Duijvenbode in a sudden-death shoot-out to move into the semi-finals following a thriller.

Van Gerwen had put the four-time winners in front by taking the opening Singles tie 4-1 against Henderson - after Scotland opted to switch their order of throw.

Wright then set up the Doubles decider by defeating Van Duijvenbode 4-1, and the Scottish duo opened up a 3-1 lead to move to the brink of the semis.

The Dutch produced back-to-back 14-darters to take the tie to a one-leg decider, with Wright's 140 leaving 64 for Henderson, who landed tops to claim a memorable win.

Semi-Finals Round-Up
Rowby-John Rodriguez - Cazoo World Cup of Darts (Kais Bodensieck, PDC Europe)

Austria won through to their first World Cup final with a sensational 2-0 defeat of England in Sunday's opening semi-final as Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez rose to the occasion in Jena.

Suljovic opened the tie in brilliant fashion by averaging 109 in a 4-1 victory over James Wade to give Austria the opening Singles point.

Dave Chisnall opened his tie with Rodriguez with a 12-darter, but the former World Youth Championship finalist took out 109, 128 and 86 amongst four straight legs to seal a brilliant victory.

The win moves Austria into their first World Cup final, having never previously won past the quarter-finals, while both players have put themselves in line for a Grand Slam of Darts place in November.

Scotland - Cazoo World Cup of Darts (Kais Bodensieck, PDC Europe)

Scotland's John Henderson and Peter Wright ended Wales' World Cup title defence as they knocked out Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in a thrilling semi-final in Jena.

Henderson defied a 103 average from Price to win their Singles tie 4-2 as the Scot gave his nation the early advantage.

Premier League champion Clayton hit back for Wales as he defeated Price 4-2 in the second Singles contest, creating a Doubles decider for a place in the final.

Scotland took the first two legs of the Doubles contest, only for Wales to produce legs of 14, 13 and 11 darts to move 3-2 up.

A 14-darter from Scotland ensured a sudden-death leg, and they were first to a finish as Henderson took out 46 on double 18 to move the 2019 finalists into the final.

Whilst Wright was part of the 2019 team which took glory - alongside Gary Anderson - Henderson will be appearing in his first televised final and has also secured a provisional qualifying place in November's Grand Slam of Darts.