2 days ago
Winning start for Ireland at World of Darts
The Republic of Ireland opened their World of Darts campaign with a 4-2 victory over Gibraltar in Frankfurt.
Keane Barry and Willie O'Connor helped Ireland to a positive start in Group D with a 92.4 average.
The Group Stage of the 40-nation event saw the opening 12 ties take place at the Eissporthalle, with 2019 runners-up Ireland off to a flying start.
Barry followed up a 121 finish in the opening leg with an 11-darter to wrap up proceedings.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND UNDERWAY! 🇮🇪
Keane Barry rounds off a terrific 11-darter to wrap up a 4-2 victory for Republic of Ireland over Gibraltar!
📺 #WCOD25 | First Round
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) June 12, 2025
Netherlands began their bid for a record-equalling fifth title with a thumping 4-0 victory over Italy.
Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen powered four-time champions Netherlands to a whitewash victory over last year's quarter-finalists Michele Turetta and Massimo Dalla Rosa.
German duo Martin Schindler and debutant Ricardo Pietreczko were roared on to a hard-fought 4-2 win against Portugal, who were represented by former Grand Slam champion Jose de Sousa and newcomer Bruno Nascimento.
However, two-time runners-up Austria produced the performance of Thursday's opening night, as Mensur Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez averaged north of 99 in their 4-1 drubbing of Spain.
Belgium's new-look pairing of Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh also impressed at the Eissporthalle, dispatching Latvia 4-1 to take control of Group B.
There was success for a trio of Asian nations on Day One, as Japan, Malaysia and Hong Kong opened the round-robin phase with victories.
The losing nations from Thursday's opening games will now play the third team from each group in Friday's afternoon session, before the decisive final group games are played on Friday evening.
Following the conclusion of the round-robin phase, the draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday evening, as the top four seeds England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland enter the fray in Saturday's second round.
