Ireland Starts World Cup Campaign With Win Over Gibraltar
Ireland starts World Cup campaign with win after a confident 4-2 victory over Gibraltar in Frankfurt. Keane Barry and Willie O’Connor led the way with a sharp 92.4 average in Group D, setting the tone for their country’s hopes in this year’s tournament. Barry, who hit a 121 checkout in the opening leg, capped the match with a slick 11-darter, giving Ireland a flying start to their journey in the 40-nation event, hosted at the Eissporthalle.
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Netherlands Dominate in Style
Meanwhile, four-time champions the Netherlands began their mission to equal the record for most World Cup titles with a dominant 4-0 whitewash against Italy. Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen showcased their class, comfortably dismantling last year’s quarter-finalists Michele Turetta and Massimo Dalla Rosa.
Germany Delight Home Crowd
Germany also had plenty to cheer about. Backed by a lively home crowd, Martin Schindler and World Cup debutant Ricardo Pietreczko fought hard to secure a 4-2 victory over Portugal. Their opponents, Jose de Sousa—a former Grand Slam champion—and new partner Bruno Nascimento, couldn’t stop the momentum built by the German duo.
Austria Shine With Standout Performance
Austria, two-time runners-up, delivered one of the most impressive performances of the night. Mensur Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez crushed Spain 4-1 while averaging over 99, sending a strong message to their Group C rivals.
Belgium and Asian Nations Impress
Belgium also enjoyed success as Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh, a fresh pairing, breezed past Latvia with a 4-1 victory to take charge of Group B. On the international front, it was a good day for Asia as Japan, Malaysia, and Hong Kong all recorded wins to boost their chances in the group stage.
Next Stage of Group Battles Begins Friday
The teams that lost on Thursday will return on Friday afternoon to face the third team in their respective groups. Then, the final and decisive group matches will be held Friday evening. The round-robin phase concludes with a draw for the last 16, setting the stage for Saturday’s second round where top seeds England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland will finally join the action.
