Five Potential Upsets At The BetVictor World Cup Of Darts 2019
THE FACTS
When is the BetVictor World Cup of Darts 2019? June 6th - 9th, 2019
Where is the BetVictor World Cup of Darts 2019? Barclaycard Arena, Hamburg
What television channel is the BetVictor World Cup of Darts 2019 on in the UK? Sky Sports Action
Where can I stream the BetVictor World Cup of Darts 2019 in the UK? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the event via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for the BetVictor World Cup of Darts 2019? https://www.pdc-europe.tv/tickets/
The 2019 BetVictor World Cup of Darts gets underway in Hamburg on Thursday evening. The first round is played across both Thursday and Friday evenings and such is the format in the first round of the tournament (one best-of-nine legs doubles match per tie), there is a genuine chance of some surprise results.
We have picked out five potential first-round upsets.
Netherlands vs SPAIN
A new-look Netherlands team won’t have much time to settle into the tournament in their bid to retain the title as they come up against a very dangerous Spanish team in round one. Although the Dutch still have world number one Michael van Gerwen in their ranks, four-time World Cup winner Raymond van Barneveld is replaced in the team by debutant Jermaine Wattimena who plays with a rapid style which may not be suited to the doubles format.
The capable Spanish duo of Cristo Reyes and Toni Alcinas are pairing up for the fifth consecutive year, with Alcinas having represented his country in all eight previous stagings of the tournament. The relationship between the pair is very good as they both spend a lot of time together on the tour which should ensure a good team spirit.
Spain are no strangers to World Cup upsets with Alcinas being part of the team that ousted both England and Scotland in previous years and there is the possibility that the Netherlands could be added to that list of scalps.
England vs PHILIPPINES
England may be the top seeds and four-time World Cup winners, but the 2019 pairing of Rob Cross and Michael Smith have very limited World Cup experience with one World Cup appearance between them, so the short format doubles first round match against the Philippines will be a massive test for the English duo.
Lourence Ilagan and Noel Malicdem may not ply their trade on the main PDC tour they are very successful on the PDC Asian circuit, with both having won tournaments during 2019. The fact that they are used to winning matches means confidence should be high and they are coming into this fixture with nothing to lose.
Make no mistake, this is a tough draw for the number one ranked nation and they could be vulnerable to an early exit.
Wales vs SINGAPORE
Wales have a good World Cup pedigree with two final appearances to their name. The Welsh team of Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton will be aiming to go one better in 2019 and land their first World Cup title, but they will first have to come through an awkward looking match against Singapore in round one.
The vastly experienced Paul Lim and his namesake Harith Lim will fear no team. They have been partnering up in the World Cup for Singapore since 2014 and famously stunned Scotland in the first round in 2017 on their way to reaching the quarter-finals.
Wales have succumbed to shocks in the World Cup previously, with defeats against Hong Kong in 2015 and Canada in 2016, so a further upset can’t be ruled out against Singapore in 2019.
Scotland vs DENMARK
Twice World Cup runners-up Scotland reached the final in 2015 and 2018 when represented by the duo of Gary Anderson and Peter Wright, and they start as one of the favourites to win the tournament this year. A negative for the Scots this year is that their top man Gary Anderson has only played eight matches in 2019 due to a back injury and Peter Wright had a Premier League campaign to forget.
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The Danish team are led for the ninth consecutive year by Per Laursen and he is joined by Niels Heinsøe, who will be Laursen’s eighth different partner in the World Cup. The furthest the Danes have progressed at the World Cup is the last 16 and they will be trying to repeat that achievement this year.
The question marks over fitness and form of the Scottish team could be put to the test in the opening round. Although Anderson and Wright have reached two World Cup finals, they have also been humbled against South Africa (2012) and Singapore (2017).
Belgium vs HONG KONG
The Belgian duo of Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri Van den Bergh have a great rapport and reached the semi-finals last year, but if they are to repeat that feat, they will have to put aside some very indifferent form on the tour in recent months. Huybrechts has not reached a quarter-final since last September whilst Van den Bergh has only managed two last 16 appearances since reaching a final in February.
Huybrechts and Van den Bergh face Hong Kong who have proven to be a tricky team to face in the past and reached the quarter-finals in 2015 when they defeated Wales and Ireland. They are again led by Royden Lam who was a part of that team in 2015.
The Belgian team can grow in confidence if they manage to get through the first round but that is no foregone conclusion as they face a tough examination from a Hong Kong team that are capable of exploiting any opening night jitters.
