Defending champions Scotland up and running with victory over Japan, Greece produce impressive display to whitewash Sweden

Defending World Cup of Darts champions Scotland albeit with a different duo in John Henderson and Robert Thornton are successfully through their opening test against Japanese team Seigo Asada and Yuki Yamada in a 5-3 win.

Henderson and Thornton, who do have experience with the latter playing in five World Cup of Darts acquitted themselves well but did make hard work of it at times in claiming victory.

They began on double four to give themselves the lead with Yamada in particular for Japan not settling. The latter pinned double 20 though to make it 1-1.

It was a lead for Japan as Asada smashed in a 120 checkout after Henderson hit a 180. The close start continued with Henderson picking out double seven to make it 2-2.

But they claimed a break of throw from there which ignited Thornton who smashed in a 180 to leave 112 on their throw. Japan though were given a chance but couldn’t take it and Henderson hit double 20 to go one away.

A 52 checkout reduced the deficit to 4-3 and kept Japan in proceedings. But Asada’s pressure came at the wrong time on Scotland’s throw and Thornton pinned 44 to send them through.

Greece duo of Veniamin Symeonidis and John Michael began proceedings with a brilliant 5-0 whitewash win over highly fancied Swedish pair, Daniel Larsson and Dennis Nilsson.

Michael began the tie with a stunning 110 checkout and it was Symeonidis’s turn to hit the winning doubles as he made it into a 3-0 lead for the duo who had not won a game before in the competition.

The latter hit a 76 checkout to stretch their lead to 4-0 and it was concluded with a 48 checkout. In terms of statistics, ‘The Deadly Rose’ hit a 95.9 average with Symeonidis hitting 86.5.

They were also a combined 63% (5/8) on the doubles with Larsson and Nilsson only getting one dart at double in the whole game.

World Cup of Darts 2020 schedule

Friday 6 November

Evening session (18:00 GMT)

Sweden (82.92) 0-5 (91.65) Greece
Japan (75.08) 3-5 (80.45) Scotland
Poland v South Africa
Republic of Ireland v Australia
Wales v Russia
Germany v Finland
Netherlands v Brazil
Hong Kong v Latvia