Germany Lay Down Marker on Opening Night as Wales And Hong Kong Begin World Cup Campaign in Style

Host nation Germany sent an early warning to their rivals at the 2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts with a dominant opening-night performance in Frankfurt, while Wales also made an impressive start to their quest for a third title.

The opening session of this year’s tournament saw 12 group-stage matches contested at the Eissporthalle, with several of the competition’s fancied nations making strong starts in their bids to reach the knockout rounds.

Among the standout performers were Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, who produced one of the displays of the night to dispatch the Philippines in emphatic fashion and strengthen their reputation as genuine contenders for the title on home soil.

Backed by a passionate Frankfurt crowd, the German pairing stormed to a comprehensive 4-0 victory, posting a remarkable team average of 101.9 in the process.

Schindler was particularly sensational. Germany’s number one delivered a stunning individual average of 120.69 as he spearheaded a performance that underlined the hosts’ ambitions of making a deep run in the tournament.

Having opened Group A in such commanding fashion, Germany know that victory against New Zealand on Friday evening will be enough to secure their place in the last 16.

Wales also made a statement as Jonny Clayton and World Cup debutant Nick Kenny kicked off their campaign with a convincing 4-1 win over Lithuania.

The Welsh duo were ruthlessly efficient on the outer ring, converting all four of their attempts at doubles during an accomplished display.

Clayton provided the highlights, producing a superb 146 checkout before following it with a brilliant double-double 100 finish to wrap up the victory in style. The performance gives Wales early momentum as they target a third World Cup of Darts crown and seek to go one better than their runner-up finish in 2025.

While Germany and Wales enjoyed comfortable victories, former champions Australia endured a disappointing start to their campaign.

The pairing of Damon Heta and Adam Leek were edged out in a deciding-leg thriller by American duo Adam Sevada and Stowe Buntz in Group G.

Heta, a member of Australia’s victorious 2022 team, was unable to prevent the United States from claiming a valuable opening win, leaving the Australians with work to do if they are to progress from what already looks a highly competitive group.

Austria also began their tournament in confident fashion. Two-time World Cup runners-up Mensur Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez produced a polished display to overcome China 4-1 in Group I.

Suljovic, one of only two players to have appeared in every edition of the World Cup of Darts, once again demonstrated his value on the international stage. The Austrian pairing averaged 97 and controlled proceedings throughout to move into a strong position heading into their remaining group fixture.

Asian nations enjoyed a memorable evening in Frankfurt, with both Hong Kong and Japan recording significant victories.

Hong Kong continued their impressive record in the competition by defeating Belgium 4-2 in one of the most entertaining matches of the night.

Man Lok Leung and Lok Yin Lee raced into a commanding 3-0 lead and appeared set for a straightforward victory before Belgium mounted a spirited fightback.

Mike De Decker, who averaged an outstanding 106 despite ending up on the losing side, inspired the Belgians to reduce the deficit. However, Hong Kong held their nerve at a crucial moment, producing a clinical 14-dart leg to close out the contest and take control of Group B.

Japan were also forced to dig deep before securing victory in a dramatic Group K encounter against Croatia.

Motomu Sakai and Haruki Muramatsu recovered brilliantly to claim a 4-3 success in a match packed with quality finishing. The Japanese pair converted an impressive 80 percent of their attempts at doubles and showed tremendous composure under pressure.

Muramatsu played a pivotal role, taking out three important finishes during the contest, including a crucial 81 checkout on the bullseye that kept Japan alive in the penultimate leg.

Sakai then delivered the decisive blow, firing in a timely maximum before pinning double 12 to complete a superb 13-dart leg and secure victory.

Poland also strengthened their credentials as potential dark horses for the title with an impressive display against Portugal.

The highly-rated pairing of Krzysztof Ratajski and Sebastian Bialecki eased to a 4-1 victory, producing a composed and professional performance that leaves them well placed to qualify from Group E.

Republic of Ireland made a winning start in Group D as William O’Connor and Mickey Mansell defeated Singapore by the same scoreline.

Singapore threatened an upset early on when Phuay Wei Tan produced a spectacular 170 checkout to hand his nation the advantage. However, the experienced Irish pairing responded in emphatic fashion, reeling off four consecutive legs to secure victory and move within touching distance of the knockout stages.

Elsewhere, Czechia enjoyed one of the most dominant wins of the evening with a 4-0 whitewash of India in Group H.

Adam Gawlas starred for the Czech team, producing an individual average in excess of 115 as he helped his nation make the perfect start to their campaign.

Latvia also opened with victory as Madars Razma and Valters Melderis defeated Italy 4-2. After a closely contested opening phase, the Latvian duo pulled away by winning three straight legs to move to the top of Group J.

In Group F, Sweden overcame South Africa 4-2 in a hard-fought encounter, while Norway emerged victorious from a tense all-Nordic battle against Finland.

The Norwegians eventually prevailed 4-3 after a gruelling seven-leg contest, taking an important step towards qualification from Group L.

Attention now turns to Friday’s decisive group-stage action. The nations beaten on opening night will first face the remaining team in their respective groups during the afternoon session before the final round of group fixtures takes place in the evening.

Once the group winners have been determined, the draw for the knockout stages will be conducted on Friday night.

That draw will see top seeds England, Netherlands, defending champions Northern Ireland and Scotland enter the competition, with the race for the 2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts title set to intensify as the weekend progresses.

Germany Lay Down Marker on Opening Night as Wales And Hong Kong Begin World Cup Campaign in Style

2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts

Group Stage

Thursday June 11

Seeded Nation v Team 2

Czechia 4-0 India (H)

Japan 4-3 Croatia (K)

Norway 4-3 Finland (L)

Republic of Ireland 4-1 Singapore (D)

Poland 4-1 Portugal (E)

Sweden 4-2 South Africa (F)

Latvia 4-2 Italy (J)

Hong Kong 4-2 Belgium (B)

Germany 4-0 Philippines (A)

Wales 4-1 Lithuania (C)

Austria 4-1 China (I)

USA 4-3 Australia (G)

Friday June 12

Afternoon Session (1200 local time, 1100 BST)

Thursday’s losing nation v Team 3

India v Denmark (H)

Croatia v Spain (K)

Finland v Hungary (L)

Singapore v Gibraltar (D)

Portugal v Switzerland (E)

South Africa v Mongolia (F)

Italy v Trinidad & Tobago (J)

Belgium v Slovenia (B)

Philippines v New Zealand (A)

Lithuania v Thailand (C)

China v France (I)

Australia v Canada (G)

Evening Session (1900 local time, 1800 BST)

Thursday’s winning nation v Team 3

Czechia v Denmark (H)

Japan v Spain (K)

Norway v Hungary (L)

Republic of Ireland v Gibraltar (D)

Poland v Switzerland (E)

Sweden v Mongolia (F)

Latvia v Trinidad & Tobago (J)

Hong Kong v Slovenia (B)

Germany v New Zealand (A)

Wales v Thailand (C)

Austria v France (I)

USA v Canada (G)

Best of seven legs