2025 WDF World Cup – Day Three

The remaining events for the adults and youths were played today. This time, we will start with the youth, but you will see why shortly!

Tim Welcome and Jeremy Demers commenced on their singles journey in the round-robin groups. Drawn in groups D and E respectively, it was always going to be an uphill task for them. That’s exactly the way it turned out, and neither succeeded in reaching the kn6ockout stage. Of course, it was a valuable experience for them both, and they will undoubtedly come back stronger from the week.

Nalanie Tirrell and Alexis Achgill, meanwhile, were battling it out in the girls pairs. A fine win against Egypt couldn’t overcome a heartbreaking defeat against Germany, which cost them a place in the last 16. Two legs up, girls missed a boatloadof doubles to win in straight legs, and then did the same in the decider. That would have put us in the knockout instead of Germany.

It wasn’t a great day in the men’s pairs either. After losing the first leg against the highly-rated Dutch team of Jimmy van Schie and Danny van Trijp, Jim Widmayer and Mike Neubert bounced back to take a 2-1. Mike hit both outs, including a fantastic 144 check in the third. Unfortunately, that was the last dart we had at a double, as their opponents took the next two in just 11 and 14 darts, and then clinched victory with the throw. Bruce Robbins and Robbie Phillips kicked off with a 4-0 demolition of India, but the tables soon turned as the Czech pairing of Adam Gawlas and Petr Krivka inflicted an identical scoreline on Bruce and Robbie.

Aaja Jalbert and Tracy Feiertag both started off the singles with a win, but Cali West was denied a spot in the second round by Ireland’s Aoife McCormack. It went to a decider, with Cali having the advantage of the throw,but a nice checkout from 88 sealed victory, Tracy exited the event shortly after Cali, but missed doubles in the second and third legs proved costly. Slovakian Lucia Jankovska ran out a 4-0 winner in a match that was a lot tighter than the scoreline would suggest.

Aaja won her second match, and then took on the mighty Rhian O’Sullivan at top 32. The Welsh girl opened with a brace of 16-darters before Aaja took out 82 to halve the deficit. Neither player was able to reproduce the form shown in the first three legs, but Rhian it was who was successful.

That leaves Paula Murphy. THE Paula Murphy. In previous World Cups, Paula has failed to show her undoubted class. Could this week be any different?

In her opener, a bunch of three-figure scores, and some clinical finishing (including 100 for the match) gave her a 4-0 win, and a very tidy average of 76.10. Next match, the Florida native posted another very acceptable average of 69.91 – and another 4-0 scoreline. Highlight of this match was the first leg, where Paula kicked off with back-to-back 180’s, and posted a brilliant 12-darter!

At top 32, the legendary Deta Hedman was the opponent. Deta already has one World Cup singles title under her belt, but she wasn’t going to add to that this week! Paula registered a 77.30 average on her way to an impressive 4-2 victory. Another 70-plus average against Janice Hinojales (Philippines) sent Paula to the quarter-finals.

Finn Kirsi Viinikainen wasn’t going to be easy – but Paula made it look easy. When you start legs with four straight tons, or 100, 140, 100, or 100, 100, 60, 140, it does make it look easy! And her best average so far of 77.58. Could this be the week? We’ve had several American winners of the women’s World Cup Singles previously, so could this be the next?

I’ll let you know more tomorrow…

Full details from the above can be found on DartConnect

You must be logged in to post a comment Login