World Cup of Darts 2023 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play
Northern Ireland and Austria are on the brink of elimination from the 2023 World Cup of Darts heading into day two in Frankfurt.
The group stage draws to a conclusion at Eissporthalle, where just 16 nations will remain by the close of play on Friday.
And two of the top 10 seeds are in severe danger of falling at the first hurdle, with Northern Ireland and Austria having suffered damaging defeats on the opening day.
Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan and Daryl Gurney – paired at this event for an eighth successive year – were humbled 4-1 by a Thibault Tricole-inspired France, the 2022 WDF World Championship finalist crashing in a stunning 114 checkout to finish.
They must now whitewash debutants Ukraine to have any realistic ambitions of avoiding a fourth first-round exit in seven years, while hoping the latter then denies France later on in Group D.
Meanwhile Austria, who went down 4-2 against Denmark on day one, must also win well against USA while hoping for a favour to avert only their third opening-round elimination in 13 appearances.
Elsewhere, reigning champions Australia are all but through to the knockout stages, Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock will look to get the job done against Gibraltar.
Belgium – led by Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts – can also seal their passage into the last 16 with victory over China, as can hosts Germany by defeating Japan.
Along with Ukraine, day two will see a further two debutants make their bow at the World Cup of Darts. Iceland face Spain and Devon Peterson’s South Africa, with Bahrain launching their maiden campaign against New Zealand and Latvia.
Play gets underway at 11am BST on Friday with all matches contested in a pairs format over the best of seven legs at Eissporthalle in Frankfurt.
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World Cup of Darts 2023 Schedule of Play
Friday, June 16
Group Stage
11am-3pm
Finland v China (Group A)
Singapore v Philippines (Group I)
Switzerland v Sweden (Group L)
Portugal v Lithuania (Group G)
New Zealand v Bahrain (Group K)
Spain v Iceland (Group J)
Thailand v Croatia (Group E)
Northern Ireland v Ukraine (Group D)
India v Hungary (Group H)
Hong Kong v Japan (Group B)
Guyana v Gibraltar (Group C)
Austria v USA (Group F)
6pm-10pm
Belgium v China (Group A)
Czech Republic v Philippines (Group I)
Italy v Sweden (Group L)
Poland v Lithuania (Group G)
Latvia v Bahrain (Group K)
South Africa v Iceland (Group J)
Republic of Ireland v Croatia (Group E)
France v Ukraine (Group D)
Canada v Hungary (Group H)
Germany v Japan (Group B)
Australia v Gibraltar (Group C)
Denmark v USA (Group F)
