Darts World Cup: Italy defeats Australia, qualifies for the quarter-finals and convinces Scotland

The 2024 World Cup of Darts arrived on Saturday afternoon, which means the knockout stages of the tournament are about to begin. On the afternoon of Saturday, June 29, we will see Jeffrey de Graaf play for Sweden, and the big surprises from Taiwan and Scotland will kick off the tournament.

Below you can find summaries of the afternoon's matches.

Sweden (84.06) 8-6 Czech Republic (80.44)
Lukasiak missed a number of break points in the first leg, allowing Sedlacek to put the Czechs ahead 1-0. The Czechs then capitalised on a double miss. 2-0. So Sweden woke up, as Lukasiak threw 127 and soon after they levelled the score with a double 8. A double 5 then made it three legs in a row and Lukasiak also threw the sixth leg for Sweden. With 59 points from Sedlacek, the Czechs stayed in the match. After a short break, De Graaf ensured the Swedes made it 5-3 by the end of 48. In the ninth leg, the final blow seemed to have been struck, as the Scandinavians took a 6-3 lead in the second set. But nothing could be further from the truth, as a Lukasiak miss and a Gaulas finish in the 92nd minute forced a replay. However, the Czechs were unable to capitalize on this break, as due to numerous errors in the doubles, De Graaf managed to throw 58 points to immediately reach match point; 7-4. An unexpected 138 by Sedlacek ensured that the Czechs remained in the match and with a 20 double, after one leg, the score became 7-6. In the 14th leg, Sedlacek had the opportunity to force a tiebreak of 70, but he missed the 20 double. Then Lukasiak found the 16 double with which the Swedes qualified for the quarter-finals for the second year in a row.

Austria (87.43) 8-4 Taiwan (85.53)
The Austrians started well with a 52 from Rodriguez to set up the first leg. Lu, who missed 106, gave Rodriguez a break point in the second leg, which he got on a double 8. The Taiwanese gentlemen had not yet shown their form from the group stage, so the Austrians could afford to miss doubles and then go 3-0 up. Popo missed the first arrow of Taiwan's double in the second leg, and then Suljovic took out a 102 to make it 4-0. Popo then settled for a 150, but Lu managed to recover and Taiwan climbed up the scoreboard. They were unable to capitalize on this break, and then Suljovic completed the second leg and also added a seventh leg with a 69 on target point. After the break, the Taiwanese seemed to have found something, as Popo added a second leg for Taiwan with a 13-javelin shot. The Austrians then managed to reach match point via a double 4. Taiwan then managed to hold a leg with a 65 finish and recovered a leg break one leg later via a double 5; 7-4. The surprise package certainly didn’t give up, but Rodriguez’s 121 finish ended a fantastic tournament.

Scotland (88.86) 8-2 Poland (83.40)
Szaganski missed a break in the first leg, after which Wright held the first leg for Scotland via a double 20. Not long after, Wright took a first-half lead via a double 16, after which Gary Anderson put the scoreboard 3-0 on the scoreboard with a 68. In the second leg, the Scots also broke for a second time, making it 4-0. This break was also capitalised on by a 14-link. 5-0. With a 74 from Szaganski, the Poles then got on the scoreboard, but with a second 68 from Anderson, Scotland went into the break 6-1 up. Szaganski then hit a double 20 to reduce Poland’s deficit to 2-6. Scotland reached match point via a single double and shortly after the Scots promptly closed out the match with a 74.

Italy (82.48) 8-7 Australia (85.26)
Dalla Rosa managed to put the first leg on the scoreboard for Italy with a double 20, after a poor start for the Australians. Heta was still far from his best form as he had been in the group stage and missed several doubles. This allowed the Italians to break with a double 2. Heta also surrendered in the second leg of the doubles and once again the Italians took advantage. With Whitlock finishing with a 68, the Australians then got on the scoreboard and broke the tie at 2-3 in the second leg. Italy remained calm and took another lead in the second game with a double 20. 4-2. Whitlock then forced a 3-4 break with a double 8. Heta missed a dime from 70 on the eighth and Dalla Rosa punished him. 5-3. Is there a surprise coming? Heta recovered her leg later and in the tenth leg Whitlock put Australia up at 5-5. Then the Italians took the lead again, as Torretta found double 10. With Whitlock finishing on 137, Australia came alongside again, while the Italians applied pressure. The pressure began to build on the leading nations and in the 13th leg both countries missed doubles. Eventually, Dalla Rosa managed to make the double and put Italy on match point. Heta then forced a decider, as both countries had darts. In the end, it was Dalla Rosa who made the double 14 to send Italy into the quarter-finals.