30/06/2024

Austria first semifinalist at World Cup of Darts after nerve-wracking match against Croatia

Austria are the first semifinalist at the 2024 World Cup of Darts. Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez defeated Boris Krcmar and Romeo Grbavac of Croatia after a nerve-wracking match.

The Croatian duo shot out of the starting blocks. Krcmar hit 72, giving them a 1-0 lead with a 14-darter. Krcmar then also pinned a 104 finish and a 55 checkout, extending the lead to 3-0.

Suljovic finally put Austria on the scoreboard with a 71 check-out in the fourth leg. Croatia then moved to 4-1 thanks to a 12-darter. The deficit was then made up by the Austrians. Suljovic threw out 68 and 80 to cut the deficit to 4-3, before Rodriguez hit the double 8 to make it 4-4.

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Austria then took its first lead of the match with an 11-darter in the ninth leg. That was mainly due to Rodriguez. 'Little John' recorded a 180 and a 100 finish in that leg.

The lead then went back to Croatia anyway. The Croatians threw a 14-darter in the tenth leg, then made it 6-5 via a 17-darter. Austria then missed a chance to make it 6-6, but Rodriguez missed the double 10. The Croatians, however, missed two chances to double the lead, before Suljovic equalized with a double 5.

There were more misses from Croatia in the thirteenth leg. Krcmar missed three chances to put his country at 7-6, after which Suljovic did find the double and brought Austria to one leg from victory. Suljovic was then able to finish it off in the 14th leg, but he missed three match darts. Krcmar then had one chance to keep Croatia in the match and a fine 74 finish made it 7-7.

Croatia could start the last leg, but Austria were again the first to get a matchdart. Suljovic missed tops, after which Grbavac missed a matchdart on double 20 on behalf of Croatia. Rodriguez then provided joy and relief in the Austrian camp by hitting double 10.

It is only the second time the two Austrians have reached the semifinals at the World Cup of Darts. They also succeeded in 2021, when they eventually lost to Scotland in the final. In the semifinals of this edition, Austria will play against the winner of the duel between Belgium and Italy.