HISTORY was almost repeated in the Betway World Cup of Darts as reigning champions England narrowly avoided an upset against Spain on Friday night, as they set up a second round tie with China in Frankfurt.

SCOTLAND overcame a scare against New Zealand in the Betway World Cup of Darts before claiming a 5-3 win to begin their challenge in Germany as pre-tournament favourites Netherlands edged past Russia.

CHRISTIAN KIST, Jeffrey de Graaf and Dimitri Van den Bergh qualified for both the Austrian Darts Open and European Darts Open in Wednesday's European Qualifiers double-header in Frankfurt as Italy's Daniele Petri created history.

THE 2016 Betway World Cup of Darts begins on Thursday, with England bidding to retain their title in the 32-nation Pairs tournament which is being held across four days at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt.

GERWYN PRICE will make his darting debut for Wales at the Betway World Cup of Darts this weekend to continue his emergence at the sport's highest level.

GUANSHOU RUAN claimed victory in the fifth of ten qualifying events being held on the PDC-affiliated circuit in China.

THE DPA Australasian Championship weekend in Dubbo has seen Damon Heta win a place in next month's Auckland Darts Masters and youngster Corey Cadby qualify for August's Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters.

PICTURES from the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.

RYAN SEARLE and Scott Taylor picked up their first victories on the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour in Events Seven and Eight.

NICK FULLWELL and Adam Hunt shared the victories as the second PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour weekend of 2016 kicked off with Event Five and Event Six in Wigan on Saturday.