The group stage of the World Cup of Darts concluded on Friday evening, delivering thrilling matches and unexpected twists. Germany’s duo, Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, secured their spot in the Round of 16 with a convincing 4-2 victory over New Zealand. Meanwhile, Belgium found themselves celebrating an unlikely progression, thanks to Slovenia’s surprising upset win against Hong Kong. Switzerland, unfortunately, narrowly missed out after a close defeat to Poland. Other nations like the Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland, Sweden, and Norway also punched their tickets to the knockout stage, setting the scene for an exciting Saturday of darts.
Germany’s Dominant Performance Secures Knockout Spot
Germany’s formidable pair, Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, wasted no time in confirming their place in the knockout rounds. Facing New Zealand, they needed just one leg to guarantee progression, a task they accomplished swiftly in the opening exchanges. Pietreczko impressively checked out 98, and the German hosts quickly built a commanding 3-0 lead. While Ben Robb and Jonny Tata of New Zealand fought back to make it 3-2, they couldn’t overcome Germany’s superior scoring in the decisive leg, ultimately falling 4-2. This comfortable win showcased Germany’s strength and marked them as serious contenders.
Belgium’s Fortunate Advance: A Slovenian Surprise
In a dramatic turn of events, Belgium advanced to the Round of 16, largely due to an unexpected assist from Slovenia. Benjamin Pratnemer and Stefano Bozicek of Slovenia pulled off a stunning 4-2 victory against Hong Kong, a result that directly benefited the Belgian team of van den Bergh and de Decker. Hong Kong, represented by Lok Yin Lee and Man Lok Leung, struggled with nerves, missing numerous crucial checkouts. Despite Slovenia finishing last in their group, their surprising win proved pivotal, sending Belgium through to the next stage.
Swiss Heartbreak and Other Group Stage Highlights
It was a night of mixed fortunes for other nations:
- Switzerland’s Stefan Bellmont and Marcel Walpen came agonisingly close to a decider but ultimately fell 2-4 to Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski and Sebastian Bialecki. Walpen missed a crucial 112 finish on D16, allowing Poland to seal their spot in the Round of 16.
- The Czech Republic (Adam Gawlas & Karel Sedlacek) secured their knockout ticket with a decisive 4-1 win over Denmark, showcasing strong play and an 89-average.
- Spain’s Cristo Reyes and José Justicia delivered a strong performance, defeating Japan 4-1. Reyes was particularly instrumental, hitting a crucial double 5 and a 135 finish.
- Ireland (William O’Connor & Mickey Mansell) comfortably clinched their group with a 4-2 victory against Gibraltar. They started strong, even hitting six perfect darts in one leg.
- Sweden (Oskar Lukasiak & Jeffrey de Graaf) showed impressive form with a 4-1 win over Mongolia, boasting a 96-average.
- Norway (Cor Dekker & Kent Jøran Sivertsen) triumphed in a nail-biting 4-3 decider against Hungary, though their average statistics suggest a tough road ahead.
- In a historic moment, Trinidad & Tobago (Joshua Balfour & James Walklin) celebrated their first-ever World Cup victory, winning a 4-3 decider against Latvia. Despite the win, they were eliminated as group last, while Latvia (Madars Razma & Valters Melderis) advanced.
The Road Ahead: Round of 16
The excitement continues on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with the Round of 16 matches scheduled across two sessions: an afternoon session starting at 1:00 PM CEST and an evening session at 7:00 PM CEST. Four matches will be played in each session, promising high-stakes darts action.
Prize Money Breakdown
The World Cup of Darts offers substantial prize money for the participating teams:
- Winners: £80,000 per player
- Runner-Up: £24,000 per player
- Semi-Finalists: £15,000 per player
- Quarter-Finalists: £10,000 per player
- Round of 16: £5,000 per player
- Group Runners-up: £3,000 per player
- Group Third-place: £2,500 per player
The total prize fund for the tournament stands at £500,000.
Catch the Action Live
All major tournaments, including the World Cup of Darts, are typically broadcast live in high definition, allowing fans worldwide to follow every dart and every dramatic moment. Check your local sports broadcasting schedules for live coverage of the Round of 16 and beyond.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
