Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Latvia, Italy impress at World Cup
Teams fought for their last chance or got on the podium for the first time. Tonight is the denouement of the group stage.
Spain 3-4 Gibraltar
Spain made it 1-0 in 15 darts as José Justicia notched a finish of 143. It was Craig Galliano who threw the first 180 of the match on behalf of Gibraltar in the second leg. The same Galliano finished 60 to level the score after two legs.
After the 4-0 defeat against Sweden, the Spaniards could not afford to lose a leg and Galliano's exploited double ensured that Spain was eliminated anyway.
Nevertheless, Spain managed to hold its own third leg and take another lead. A miss by Galliano was not punished and a turn later Justin Hewitt, on behalf of Gibraltar, ensured a new tie: 2-2.
Leg number five also went with the darts and the Spaniards were one leg away from victory. Galliano smashed in the second 180 of the match and again failed to post a break.
The decisive seventh leg was started by Spain, but Gibraltar enjoyed the support of the German crowd. Hewitt missed a matchdart after which Jesus Noguera did the same for Spain from 71. The honour fell to Galliano. He threw double 9 and dragged victory across the line.
Spain has been eliminated as previously reported. Gibraltar and Sweden will decide in a mutual duel during the evening session who will join the last 16.
Bahrain 0-4 Iceland
Despite the fact that the level was nothing to write home about in the first leg, the Icelanders took the lead via a break, helped by a 180 from Petur Rudrik Gudmundsson.
Arngrimur Olafsson cashed in the break a leg later, after the Bahraini men did not make it easy for themselves with loose darts and low scores.
Bassim Mahmood could not finish from 10 with three darts in hand, which the Icelanders took advantage of via Olafsson, who did finish for the third leg in a row.
Mahmood and his partner Durra Duda already lost to the Czech Republic yesterday: 4-3. Now they did not grab a single leg. Iceland and the Czech Republic will decide in a mutual duel tonight who will advance to the next round.
Latvia 4-2 Denmark
Latvia took the lead at a murderous pace in its own first leg. Valters Melderis started the leg and also threw it out despite a 180 from the Danes. In leg two, his partner Madars Razma threw the first Latvian 180 of the match. Another 180 from Benjamin Reus allowed the Danes to keep their own leg: 1-1.
The first break of the match came to Denmark 's name, but they could not enjoy it for long, as the Latvians hit back immediately: 2-2.
Latvia fought their way to a renewed lead through Melderis and a leg later he threw out 64 for victory.
Despite the victory, the Latvians were eliminated. They already lost 4-1 to France yesterday, who will decide who joins the last 16 in a mutual duel with Denmark.
Malaysia 3-4 Canada
Malaysia very surprisingly grabbed a 2-0 lead after a break. Mohamed Nassir was scoring superbly and also managed to find the double twice.
Through Matt Campbell, a rebreak was posted by the Canadians. The same Campbell ensured the tie a leg later.
Finishing 91, Malaysia grabbed its own fifth leg in 17 darts to regain the lead.
Canadian David Cameron made his first appearance by throwing out the sixth leg and the decisive seventh leg could be started by the Malaysians.
Cameron threw 180, after which Canada threw 100 twice, which became too powerful for Malaysia. With three darts in hand, matchdart number one went off for Cameron.
Malaysia has been eliminated after two defeats. Canada and Croatia will decide in a mutual duel tonight who advances to the second round.
Lithuania 2-4 Chinese Taipei
The first 180 of the match was for An-Sheng Lu on behalf of Chinese Taipei. Moments later, he threw two more triple 20, but missed the double 16 by a hair. Teng-Lieh Pupo did throw out a turn later and the lightning fast break was a fact.
Darius Labanauskas threw the Lithuanians' first 180 and partly as a result, they broke back immediately. The first two legs both went out in just 14 darts.
The third break in a row became a reality when Pupo threw out again and Chinese Taipei took the lead again. The fourth leg also went against the darts and Lithuania came to 2-2.
Lithuania also failed to hold her own fifth leg the Chinese Taipei was allowed to start the sixth leg for the match.
That sixth leg was the first to go with the arrows and that resulted in victory for Chinese Taipei, who will decide tonight in a mutual duel with Ireland who will advance to the last 16.
Norway 4-3 Hungary
Via a 71-finish from Gabor Jagicza, Hungary took the first leg from Norway. After two legs, however, the score was level again and a third leg of their own in 15 darts gave the Norwegians their first lead of the match through Dutch-born Cor Dekker.
Nando Major recorded the first 180 of the match on behalf of Hungary in the fourth leg and that brought them alongside the Norwegians again: 2-2.
Dekker put Norway up 3-2, but could not prevent the match going to a decisive seventh leg.
In that, the Hungarians missed four matchdarts and Dekker dragged out the victory.
Despite the victory, Norway has been eliminated. Hungary still has a chance, but it will have to win against Poland tonight by two legs.
United States 2-4 Italy
A 114-final from Jules van Dongen, also Dutch-born, gave the United States a break in the first leg. Michele Turetta showed guts by going for double 19 from 38 and Italy immediately broke back.
Massimo Dalla Rosa secured a lead for the Italians in the third leg. Danny Lauby Jr. threw bullseye from 82, double 16 and levelled the score after four legs.
As Italy made it 3-2, it was the end of the story for the Americans after yesterday's 4-2 defeat against Portugal.
Italy eventually recorded a handsome 4-2 victory and will get to decide with Portugal in a mutual duel tonight who advances to the second round.
Singapore 1-4 Philippines
The Philippines took a 1-0 lead in their own first leg through Christian Perez. A somewhat rusty second leg saw Singapore equalise. Perez showed his class by throwing out 143 and with the darts to put the Philippines back in the lead.
Singapore looked like a sinking ship when it also fell behind 3-1 and the Philippines needed just one more leg for victory. Singapore's fate, led by living legend Paul Lim, was sealed by then. With yesterday's 4-2 defeat against Belgium, they could no longer finish first.
Lim missed another handful of darts on the doubles before Alexis Toylo finished it off for the Philippines.
The Philippines will play a mutual duel against Belgium tonight for a place in the last 16.
South Africa 4-2 Switzerland
Through Bruno Stöckli, the Swiss took the lead in their own first leg. Cameron Carolissen made it 1-1 a leg later. As the South Africans managed to throw a maximum score twice, they took their first lead through a break.
Carolissen put South Africa up 3-1, but as the fifth leg went to Switzerland, they no longer had to count on a spot in the second round, as they lost 4-1 to Northern Ireland yesterday.
Again it was Carolissen who took the leg. South Africa leave the tournament with a 4-2 win, while Switzerland must win at least 4-1 against Northern Ireland tonight for a place in the last 16.
New Zealand 4-0 Finland
Haupai Puha put New Zealand ahead in the first leg through a break. The break was cashed in a leg later. That the Oceania were a size too big became clear when they also made it 3-0 against the Finns, who had little to contribute.
New Zealand completed a sweep after Ben Robb netted the fourth leg in a row.
After last night's defeat against Germany, the New Zealanders need a Finland victory against Germany.
Japan 1-4 Hong Kong
Hong Kong took the lead in their own first leg and Lee Lok Yin provided the break and a 2-0 lead a leg later. The Hongkongers also took a 3-0 lead and another sweep was in the air.
Japan did a bit back and came back to 3-1 in her own fourth leg. It was to no avail for the Japanese, who were eliminated after the defeat.
Hong Kong will take on Australia tonight for a spot in the last 16.
China 4-2 Guyana
Guyana took the first leg, which was not of a particularly high standard. The South Americans even took a 2-0 lead through Norman Madhoo after China broke.
China did something back in the third leg by breaking themselves and reducing the deficit to one leg. The break was cashed in and levelled the score completely forcing Guyana to start from scratch.
China won the third leg in a row as Zong Xiao Chen threw a 135 finish. The 2-0 deficit was turned around in a 4-2 victory for the Chinese, who were admittedly eliminated.
Guyana still has a chance, but to do so they must win at least 4-1 against Austria tonight.
