Philippines brought on a significant upset on Day Two on the BetVictor World Cup of Darts, dumping out former finalists Belgium to e-book their place within the knockout levels.
Lourence Ilagan and Paolo Nebrida trailed Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh 3-0 of their winner-takes-all Group B showdown, solely to reel off 4 straight legs to finish a surprising fightback.
De Decker and Van den Bergh squandered seven match darts within the closing levels, with Nebrida hitting all 4 of Philippines’ successful doubles to sentence Belgium to their earliest exit in World Cup historical past.
“We didn’t expect this. We are really happy to win,” mirrored Ilagan, who additionally led his facet to a 4-2 win over Latvia of their opening round-robin tie.
“It’s not easy to play against two of the best players in the PDC, but we just tried to play our own game and we trusted each other.”
It was a memorable day for Asian darts in Frankfurt, as Malaysia and Hong Kong additionally made it by way of to the final 16 because the group stage reached a dramatic conclusion.
Malaysia created their very own slice of historical past to affix Philippines within the knockout levels, as Tengku Shah and Tan Jenn Ming impressed them to an emphatic 4-1 win over Denmark in a decisive Group F match.
In the meantime, Hong Kong’s Man Lok Leung and Lok Yin Lee breezed into spherical two with a whitewash win over Bahrain, following on from their 4-1 demolition of USA on Thursday’s opening evening.
4-time champions Netherlands, 2022 winners Australia and host nation Germany additionally preserved their title hopes throughout a marathon double session on the Eissporthalle.
Dutch duo Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen stormed by way of Group A with out relinquishing a leg, whitewashing Hungary to proceed their pursuit of a record-equalling fifth title.
Australian icons Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock produced a terrific show to dump out two-time runners-up Austria of their Group H finale, having additionally swept apart Spain earlier within the day.
Heta averaged 114 of their rubber in opposition to Spain, earlier than Australia gained 4 successive legs to finish a 4-1 thumping of Mensur Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez in Friday’s penultimate tie.
Host nation Germany safely navigated their approach by way of the group section, as Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko swept apart Singapore in 4 straight legs.
Paul Lim – partnered by newcomer Phuay Wei Tan – rolled again the years on the age of 71 as Singapore denied Portugal, earlier than dropping out to the house favourites in a straight Group C shoot-out.
Republic of Eire suffered a shock 4-2 defeat by the hands of China in Group D, though William O’Connor and Keane Barry scraped by way of to the final 16 by way of legs gained in opposition to the throw.
Following Gibraltar’s 4-2 win over China earlier within the day, all three groups have been remarkably tied on factors and legs distinction, with the 2019 runners-up confirming high spot by the barest of margins.
Ninth seeds Poland have been one other high-profile nation to exit on Day Two, as South African stars Cameron Carolissen and Devon Petersen claimed the spoils in a rollercoaster Group E.
Carolissen and Petersen preserved their qualification hopes with a 4-1 thumping of Norway, who later defeated Krzysztof Ratajski and Radek Szaganski to ship South Africa by way of.
Argentina’s fairy-tale story continues
Argentina continued their dream debut on the World Cup of Darts
Argentina – the solitary debutants on this 12 months’s area – made their mark in some fashion, edging out New Zealand in a deciding-leg thriller to clinch their place in Saturday’s second spherical.
Sweden’s Jeffrey de Graaf and Oskar Lukasiak progressed by way of Group G, regardless of succumbing 4-3 to France in a battle of the previous World Cup quarter-finalists.
Thibault Tricole and Jacques Labre squandered alternatives to ship France by way of by way of legs distinction, and so they have been in the end left to rue their deciding-leg defeat to Lithuania in Friday’s curtain-raiser.
Switzerland additionally superior in dramatic vogue, as Stefan Bellmont and Alex Fehlmann shrugged off a 4-3 defeat to Croatia by dispatching Japan 4-1 to complete high of Group Ok by way of legs distinction.
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Petr Krivka’s tooth flew out as he celebrated Czechia’s win over India
Elsewhere, Czechia secured high spot in Group J, recording back-to-back 4-2 victories over Chinese language Taipei and India to achieve the knockout levels for the second straight 12 months.
England to face hosts Germany in blockbuster tie
Luke Humphries and Luke Littler will workforce up for England in opposition to Germany
The draw for the final 16 was made following the completion of Friday night’s motion, and reigning champions England – led by Luke Humphries and debutant Luke Littler – will open their defence of the title with a blockbuster tussle in opposition to hosts Germany.
Two-time champions Scotland will play Netherlands in one other crunch conflict, whereas Wales start their bid for a 3rd World Cup crown in opposition to Philippines.
Fourth seeds Northern Eire go up in opposition to South Africa for a spot within the final eight, with 2022 champions Australia pitted in opposition to Argentina.
Former finalists Republic of Eire meet Switzerland, Hong Kong play Sweden, as Malaysia and Czechia additionally collide.
Following Saturday’s second spherical, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and ultimate will then happen throughout a bumper double session on Sunday, because the remaining eight nations compete for the coveted title on the Eissporthalle.
Final 16 Draw
(1) England vs Germany
Argentina vs Australia
(4) Northern Eire vs South Africa
Switzerland vs Republic of Eire
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(2) Wales v Philippines
Hong Kong v Sweden
(3) Scotland v Netherlands
Malaysia v Czechia
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