Australia 3 – 1 Belgium

Australia progressed into the semi-finals of the World Cup in Hamburg when Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson produced a stunning display in the doubles to dump Belgium out of the tournament.

Whitlock beat Kurt van de Rijck in straight legs before Nicholson suffered a defeat, meaning that the match would be decided by the doubles game.

Australia were sensational in the decider, and are looking like the team to beat after another convincing win.

SIMON WHITLOCK 4 – 0 Kurt van de Rijck

Simon Whitlock whitewashed Kurt van de Rijck to put Australia a point ahead in the quarter-final. ‘The Wizard’ produced a clinical display in his singles match in Hamburg, which he completed in double quick time.

Photo: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Whitlock hit double ten to win both of the first two legs. ‘The Wizard’ hit double top to take the third leg with a tidy thirteen darter. He then responded to a 180 from his opponent by hammering in two of his own as he completed a convincing victory.

PAUL NICHOLSON 2 – 4 Kim Huybrechts

Paul Nicholson was beaten by Kim Huybrechts in the second singles match of the quarter-final against Belgium, meaning the match would be decided by the pairs match.

Huybrechts hit the bull to take the lead but ‘The Asset’ hit straight back. He hit double nine to level things up before slotting in his first maximum. Huybrechts took out 111 and then 129 to take a 3-1 lead. Nicholson then hit double 18 to keep himself in the match, before hammering home another maximum under pressure. But it was Huybrechts who won the leg, to draw Belgium level on points.

WHITLOCK & NICHOLSON 4 – 2 van de Rijck & Huybrechts

Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson finished off their opponents in a high quality doubles match. The Australian pair produced a stunning display of relentless scoring and sharp finishing to progress to the semi-finals.

Whitlock opened with a maximum and went on to hit double eight to give Australia the lead. Nicholson hit his first 180 in leg two before ‘The Wizard’ hit his second, setting up his teammate to take out 41.

Belgium pulled a leg back before Whitlock hit double top to move a leg away from the semi-finals. Huybrechts hit double ten to keep Belgium in the match and then applied the pressure on the Aussies with a 180. Nicholson hit back with high scoring though and Whitlock hit double top to seal the victory.

By Chris Murphy

World Cup of Darts: Round 2: The Netherlands 3 – 1 Austria

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD & VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 5 – 2 Dietmar Burger & Mensur Suljovic

Raymond van Barneveld and Vincent van der Voort joined forces to produce a solid display as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

The Dutch pair, defending their nation’s title, saw off the challenge of Austria with apparent ease.

Van der Voort got the ball rolling by hitting double one to win a tense opening leg. ‘The Dutch Destroyer’ then hit double top to move Holland into a 2-0 lead. He then took out 44 to complete an eleven dart leg for the Dutch team.

Mensur Suljovic pulled a leg back for Austria with a 121 checkout before van Barneveld hit double ten to move within a leg of victory. Austria grabbed a lifeline by winning the next leg but ‘Barney’ wrapped up the match with a smooth 76 checkout.

The Netherlands will take on Northern Ireland tonight as they bid to move a step closer to claiming their second consecutive World Cup title.

By Chris Murphy