Belgium survive scare in deciding leg win over Czech Republic, host nation Austria through with victory over USA

Belgium's duo of Dimitri van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts are through to the second round of the World Cup of Darts after an entertaining tie against Czech Republic where they survived a scare.

The impressive duo of Karel Sedlacek and Adam Gawlas went into a 3-1 lead but Belgium forced it into a decider which they claimed as they diminished the potential of a first early exit for the former finalists.

They hit the front to start the tie despite a 180 from Sedlacek as Van den Bergh hit double 16. Sedlacek once again pinned a maximum and he pinned double eight with a 62 checkout to level.

Van den Bergh missed double 18 for a 110 checkout but Gawlas showed his inexperience by drifting into double 11 busting the score. Huybrechts himself fluffed his lines though and the experienced Sedlacek hit double eight to make it 2-1 with a break.

Gawlas and Sedlacek continued to show quality with a 140 followed by a 180 to leave 81. The World Youth finalist left 32 from 81. Sedlacek returned for double 16 and a 3-1 lead.

A 64 checkout from Huybrechts stopped the rot and it was a pivotal impasse coming up as they looked to bring themselves back into proceedings.

They did with Huybrechts pinning double 16 to make it parity once more. A brilliant 180 from Gawlas brought them into the requisite leg and he put pressure on with a 139 to leave double 16.

Belgium got away with it though with Van den Bergh pinning double 20 to hold after Sedlacek missed three to break. Sedlacek left Gawlas 56 to hold in the next leg which he couldn’t pin to make it 4-4. Van den Bergh had 87 to win but missed the bull. ‘Evil Charlie’ as a result took it to a decider.

It was a tense decider with trebles being celebrated and a pivotal 140 from Huybrechts left 161 with Czech Republic not on a finish. Van den Bergh hit 125 to leave 36 and Huybrechts pinned it first time to win through showing some emotion in the process.

Host Nation Austria are also through with established duo of Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez back together and in the winners circle with victory over the USA duo of Chuck Puleo and Danny Lauby Jnr in a 5-2 victory.

Rodriguez claimed the opening leg with double 10 after Suljovic left it handy. A 180 and double 16 saw Austria double their lead but a poor leg on their side saw Puleo hit double six to break straight back.

Lauby missed double 20 to hold from an 80 checkout after Suljovic hit missed a trio at double three. Rodriguez came back though and made no mistake to take the break back at 3-1 up.

A 180 and double eight from Suljovic saw Austria go one away. A quick fire 56 checkout from Lauby saw them keep themselves in proceedings at 4-2 down. But Puleo failed to get a shot off an 82 checkout and Rodriguez pinned double 16 to win through.

World Cup of Darts 2020 schedule

Friday 6 November
Afternoon session (12:00 GMT)

Lithuania (87.23) 5-3 (77.17) Gibraltar
Portugal (85.4) 5-0 (73.32) Hungary
New Zealand (86.22) 5-2 (72.85) Denmark
Northern Ireland (87.78) 2-5 (94.51) Canada
Belgium (93.53) 5-4 (90.37) Czech Republic
Austria (82.91) 5-2 (81.18) USA
England v Philippines
Italy v Spain

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