Malicdem Darts das seriГse Leonard Kawhi Gewinne voraussetzt, dass sich diese Situation in der Zukunft noch Гndert. - News - Darts

Top seeds England progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup of Darts with a battling victory over Philippines, as fourth seeds Northern Ireland crashed out on a dramatic opening afternoon in Salzburg.

The nation tournament began with a bang, as Michael Smith and Rob Cross survived a scare to edge out the dangerous Filipino pairing of Lourence Ilagan and Noel Malicdem.

Hosts Austria progressed to Saturday's second round alongside New Zealand and Spain, whilst Portugal recorded their first victory in World Cup history at the Salzburgarena.

Smith and Cross kicked off England's assault for a fifth World Cup of Darts crown by accounting for the enigmatic partnership of Ilagan and Malicdem for a second year in succession.

The Premier League duo weren't at their vintage best, but still boasted a solid Cancel anytime. Malicdem also wired the bull for a spectacular finish in leg six, yet Ilagan was the dominant force in the scoring department, producing a flurry of two-treble visits as a revitalised Philippines levelled at three apiece.

However, the pendulum swung in leg seven as Malicdem failed to take out 92 and Smith displayed no finishing line fever, posting a majestic visit of before cleaning up on double 16 for a stylish darter.

The four-time winners will take on Lithuania for a place in the quarter-finals, after Darius Labanauskas and Mindaugas Barauskas overcame Gibraltar's young pairing of Craig Galliano and Justin Hewitt in the afternoon's opener.

The year-olds acquitted themselves impressively on debut, although former World Championship finalist Labanauskas delivered the goods for Lithuania, converting 95 and 96 finishes en route to victory.

Fourth seeds Northern Ireland were dumped out in the opening round for a second consecutive year, as Gurney and Dolan succumbed to the formidable Canadian partnership of Jeff Smith and Matt Campbell.

Smith, celebrating his 45th birthday in Salzburg, produced a captain's performance to lead his side to victory - featuring a sensational finish in leg three.

Canada started strongly and threatened an immediate break of throw, only for Northern Ireland to draw first blood courtesy of Dolan's clinical checkout.

The bags of promise he had when bursting onto the scene at a young age haven't materialised. From one player in a set of three, we hop to another. The Filipino isn't quite at their level, but did a superb job again on the Asian Tour, finishing second only to compatriot Ilagan.

The year-old now get a return to the Ally Pally, having thoroughly enjoyed his debut. Trailing in sets to Jeffrey de Graaf in what was at that point a very low-quality affair, Malicdem found a couple of new gears to win six of the last seven legs and prevail He actually performed better in his second round defeat to Kyle Anderson.

Malicdem has the ability to cause problems. Whoever comes out on top here will party with Snakebite, Peter Wright, in round two.

It'd be a huge moment for the nation, and after backing Ilagan to beat Reyes, we're also plumping for Malicdem. He has every right to be confident going into this, and Rodriguez so often goes missing in TV events.

Rowby-John Rodriguez Noel Malicdem is definitely a prediction that could make us look daft later, but we're willing to take that risk. It went to a deciding leg though but one that Malicdem had the throw in and he strengthened this was a and a checkout to go one set away from victory.

He started off the next set hitting a 98 checkout as he continued to look even more comfortable on the Alexandra Palace stage.

Next leg, he kicked off with a on his own throw after claiming that break and pinned double 20 to go one away and after Rodriguez missed his chance to hold, Malicdem smashed in a checkout to claim victory.

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