Wales ready 'to do some damage' at World Cup of Darts

BBC News

a day ago

Wales' Jonny Clayton says he and team-mate Gerwyn Price are ready to "do some damage" at the 2025 World Cup of Darts.The international doubles tournament takes place in Frankfurt, Germany, with Clayton and Price eyeing a third success for Wales.The pair were victorious in 2020 and 2023, while England's Luke Humphries and Michael Smith lifted the trophy in 2024.This year, five-time winners England are represented by the top two players in the Professional Darts Corporation's rankings - Humphries and teenage sensation Luke Littler.But speaking to BBC Sport Wales, Clayton says second seeds Wales can cause an upset."All the talk is about the two Lukes, but I'm sure me and Gez can do something about that," said Clayton.
"Gezzy is a great front runner and I think I'm a pretty good number two, so we click as a team. "Hopefully we will do some damage this year. If we can lift that trophy for a third time it'd be great."
Price and Clayton have both had their share of success against Humphries and Littler in 2025.In May, Clayton beat Humphries on the way to winning the Dutch Darts Championship, while Price and Littler each won half of their match-ups in the Premier League.But 'The Iceman' agrees with the favourites tag being placed upon England."There's no reason why they're not favourites," said Price. "But there's a lot of good teams that are going to be there."Anybody can win it but they're definitely favourites."As one of the top four seeds - alongside England, Scotland and Northern Ireland - Wales begin their World Cup campaign in the second round.As a result Wales will not play until Saturday, when all 12 second-round matches take place.From the second round through to the semi-finals, matches are best of 15 legs.In Sunday's final the number of legs increases to the best-of-19.
In every round of the competition, the match-ups are played as one-off doubles matches, and Clayton believes his and Price's rugby experiences gives them an edge."We go out as a team, and I think the rugby background helps," said Clayton. "We've played in team games before, and I know rugby is completely different to darts, but it is the team mentality."We believe in each other and you have to believe in your team-mate."While both Clayton and Price have Welsh aspects to their standard darts jersey, 'The Ferret' says there is something special about representing the country at the World Cup."There's no better feeling than representing Wales," added Clayton."Being a Welshman, I'm so proud when I put that jersey on."No matter what sport you play, if you can represent your country there is no better feeling."