World Cup of Darts Tips: Wales are still the nation to beat

Abigail Davies
18 June 2022
2:30 mins read min read

Gerwyn Price looked back to his best alongside fellow countryman Clayton on Thursday night

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The first round served up plenty of drama and whilst host nation Germany were taken to a last leg decider, we're yet to see a major upset in this year's World Cup...

"It was the happiest I've seen Price on stage in a while and he looked full of passion, confidence and focus. The roar was back to its ferocious best and the crowd's affection towards him was clearly a boost."

Second seeds and 2020 champions Wales were one of the standout performers of the opening round and are understandably many people's favourites to go on and lift the trophy for a second time this weekend, they are now 7/4 to do so.

Danny Noppert and Dirk van Duijvenbode produced a whitewash win in their opening match, they are 6/1 to claim the Netherlands fifth World Cup victory while top seeds England put in a stellar performance on Friday and it was really good to see James Wade so happy and charismatic on stage, they remain second favourites at 3/1.

World Cup the perfect tonic for Price

With a 99 average and two ton plus finishes, Wales were the standout performers on night one in Frankfurt. I said prior to the start of the tournament that I thought this could be the event that reignites the spark in The Iceman and that was evident on Thursday night.

It was the happiest I've seen Price on stage in a while and he looked full of passion, confidence and focus. The roar was back to its ferocious best and the crowd's affection towards him was clearly a boost.

There were very few tentative darts at double, he looked relaxed and maybe, just maybe, this could give Price the incentive he needs to get back to his consistent best.

Last year the pair were beaten by eventual winners Scotland but after the first round of action it's they and the Netherlands who are looking the strongest.

You can back Wales to win their quarter of the draw at 2/5.

Gurney not quite grinning after the first round

gurney getty im.jpg

Despite being sixth seeds, Northern Ireland were the ones in danger of a shock elimination in the opening round of the World Cup of Darts and I think Daryl Gurney's passionate reaction after hitting the bull for a 135 out in the seventh leg was as much a sign of frustration at the performance as much as the crowd's negative involvement in the fixture.

Brendan Dolan is one of only four players to have appeared in every single edition of the World Cup and while he was nowhere near his best on Thursday, if he can produce some of the performances we've seen from him in floor tournaments over recent months, things could start to click for this pair.

When it mattered, Gurney produced just enough to get the duo over the line and the 36-year-old remains confident that they'll be the ones lifting the trophy this weekend. They will need to be significantly better if they are to make it to the final for the very first time but if you fancy them to do so, they are 13/2.

The importance and significance of this tournament was summed up by Super Chin post-match when he said he would rather win the World Cup alongside Dolan than another major singles title.

My five fold for the second round includes Northern Ireland, Netherlands, Wales, Austria and England at 71/50.