World Cup of Darts: France and Denmark caused seismic shocks on opening night in Frankfurt | Darts News

Australian duo of Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock start title defence with an emphatic win as Belgium overcome private points The World Cup of Darts continues at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle with a double session at 11am and 6pm on Friday – stay on Sky Sports activities Enviornment

Thibault Tricole impressed France to a shock win in opposition to Northern Eire on the opening evening of the World Cup of Darts

France and Denmark brought on opening evening shocks on the World Cup of Darts, whereas defending champions Australia made a successful begin and Belgium overcame private points.

The opening evening of the revamped £450,000 match noticed 12 group stage ties happen on Thursday, with Australia’s reigning champions amongst the high-profile nations to triumph.

French duo Jacques Labre and Thibault Tricole loved a dream debut, courtesy of an emphatic 4-1 rout in opposition to Northern Eire’s Brendan Dolan and Daryl Gurney.

Labre and Tricole dominated their extra skilled opponents, and a 114 checkout from Tricole capped off a terrific show, as Northern Eire’s depressing latest document at this occasion continues.

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France brought on an enormous upset with a shock victory over Northern Eire

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Take a look at the perfect of the motion from Day One of many World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt

Danish debutant Benjamin Reus produced the efficiency of the evening, boasting an astonishing particular person common of 114.7 to stun 2021 runners-up Austria in Group F.

Reus additionally landed 4 180s and conjured up a match-winning 116 end as he and Vladimir Andersen condemned Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez to a shock 4-2 defeat.

“I do not know what simply occurred. I used to be utterly within the zone,” mirrored Reus, who featured in January’s Nordic Darts Masters.

“I used to be completely relaxed and every little thing went completely tonight. We performed two actually good PDC gamers, so we knew we wanted to search out one thing additional tonight.”

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Benjamin Reus was the star performer as Denmark outplayed Austria

Australia’s Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock started their defence with a whitewash win over debutants Guyana.

“It wasn’t an ideal efficiency however we acquired the job performed,” stated Australia’s No 1 Heta, who warmed up for this occasion by scooping a Gamers Championship title on Tuesday.

“We transfer on to greater and higher issues tomorrow evening and hopefully we get the job performed in opposition to Gibraltar.

“We have now grown up in Australia enjoying Pairs, so I believe this format fits us. We fancy our probabilities.

“We received this title final 12 months and it is as much as the opposite gamers to try to beat us, and that is how we’re going to strategy it.”

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Australia delighted the gang with their walk-on

Germany additionally opened their problem with a whitewash win over Hong Kong, as Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler dispatched Man Lok Leung and Lok Yin Lee in 4 straight legs.

Huybrechts now not will get on with team-mate Van den Bergh

Kim Huybrechts admits he now not will get on with team-mate Dimitri Van den Bergh

Belgium have been the best seeds in group stage motion on Thursday’s opening evening, and Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts started their marketing campaign with a 4-0 demolition of Finland.

After the match, Huybrechts admitted he now not will get on with team-mate Van den Bergh.

Huybrechts, the world No 31, advised On-line Darts: “It was knowledgeable victory. We did a job however that is about it.

“For me it is the primary time enjoying a doubles match with somebody you do not get together with now.”

Huybrechts added there was “one thing private” between him and world No 10 Van den Bergh.

Massimo Dante (left) and Michele Turetta have a good time their win over Switzerland

Krzysztof Ratajski impressed Poland to a deciding-leg win over Portugal’s Jose de Sousa and debutant Luis Ameixa of their Group G opener, in an exhilarating contest that includes seven maximums.

Elsewhere, Keane Barry impressed on his World Cup bow alongside ever-present William O’Connor, as 2019 finalists Eire brushed apart Thailand 4-1 of their Group E opener.

In the meantime, Michele Turetta and Massimo Dante led Italy to a landmark first win on the World Cup stage within the night’s opener, after they fended off a late fightback from Switzerland to assert a 4-3 success.

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Italy edged previous Switzerland to safe their first win on the World Cup of Darts

The shedding nations from Thursday’s matches will play the third group from every group in Friday’s afternoon session, as Northern Eire and Austria battle to protect their qualification hopes.

England, Wales, Netherlands and Scotland – the highest 4 seeded groups – don’t enter till the second spherical on Saturday.

The World Cup of Darts continues at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle on Friday with a double session at 11am and 6pm – stay on Sky Sports activities Enviornment.