SPANISH INQUISITION FOR ENGLAND IN BETWAY WORLD CUP OF DARTS
ENGLAND will begin their defence of the Betway World Cup of Darts title against Spain in Frankfurt next month, while former champions Netherlands will meet Russia in the first round of the annual Pairs tournament.
The £250,000 tournament will be held from June 2-5 at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt, where 32 nations - each represented by two players - will compete across four days in a knockout format, live on Sky Sports.
Reigning champions England, who saw Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis team up last summer to win a third title in four years, will open their bid to claim a fourth victory against Spain.
The tie will evoke memories of Spain's famous win over England in the inaugural World Cup of Darts in 2010 as they went on to reach the semi-finals.
Two-time World Cup of Darts winners Netherlands have drawn Russia for their opener, with 2015 finalists Scotland set to take on New Zealand and 2013 runners-up Belgium up against Poland.
A plum first round tie will see 2012 finalists Australia taking on host nation Germany, while fellow seeds Wales will meet Finland, Northern Ireland play Japan and Austria have been drawn with Italy.
The remaining eight games feature unseeded teams, including Canada up against debutants Greece, the all-Scandinavian meeting between Denmark and Sweden, Norway taking on Gibraltar and the Republic of Ireland playing Hong Kong.
America will play the Philippines, South Africa take on Singapore, the Czech Republic face China and Hungary will come up against Thailand.
The seedings for the Betway World Cup of Darts will be finalised on Monday May 23, along with the confirmation of the competing players for all 32 nations.
Tickets for the Betway World Cup of Darts are available through www.pdc-europe.tv.
Betway World Cup of Darts
Seeded Nations
Austria v Italy
Australia v Germany
Belgium v Poland
England v Spain
Netherlands v Russia
Northern Ireland v Japan
Scotland v New Zealand
Wales v Finland
Seed Numbers will be finalised on Monday May 23 alongside the confirmation of competing players.
Tournament Draw Bracket
Seed One Tie
Czech Republic v China
Seed Eight Tie
South Africa v Singapore
Seed Five Tie
Greece v Canada
Seed Four Tie
Republic of Ireland v Hong Kong
Seed Two Tie
Norway v Gibraltar
Seed Seven Tie
Hungary v Thailand
Seed Six Tie
Denmark v Sweden
Seed Three Tie
USA v Philippines
Prize Fund
Winners: £25,000 per player
Runners-Up: £13,000 per player
Semi-Finalists: £7,500 per player
Quarter-Finalists: £5,000 per player
Second Round Losers: £3,500 per player
First Round Losers: £1,500 per player
Total £250,000
The Betway World Cup of Darts draw was made by Betway's Alan Alger on Wednesday May 18. The eight seeded nations were listed in alphabetical order for the draw, with the unseeded nations numbered from 9-32 in alphabetical order as follows:
9 Canada
10 China
11 Czech Republic
12 Denmark
13 Finland
14 Germany
15 Gibraltar
16 Greece
17 Hong Kong
18 Hungary
19 Italy
20 Japan
21 New Zealand
22 Norway
23 Philippines
24 Poland
25 Republic of Ireland
26 Russia
27 Singapore
28 South Africa
29 Spain
30 Sweden
31 Thailand
32 USA