DISCUSSION | The best World Cup of Darts of all time? And is Josh Rock now poised for major breakthrough?

The 2025 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt was a tournament packed with surprises, emotion, and unforgettable moments. The international showdown came to a fitting conclusion with Northern Ireland lifting the trophy after a legendary final against Wales.

In this article, the editorial team at Assendelft Media each share their personal reflections on this year’s edition of the World Cup of Darts. Their perspectives may differ, but all agree on one thing: we witnessed a truly remarkable tournament.

“I found this year’s World Cup of Darts hugely entertaining, full of surprises,” begins Mats Leering (Dartsnieuws.com) in his reflection. “First and foremost, of course, the defeat of England, with the so-called ‘super pairing’ of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries. I don’t think anyone really expected them to be knocked out as early as the second round. They were overwhelming favourites going into the tournament, so seeing them go out that soon was a real shock.”

Mats is full of praise for the Northern Irish duo who went on to lift the title. “I already thought they were a strong pairing before the tournament began, but I honestly didn’t think they’d go all the way. They barely broke a sweat getting past South Africa, Ireland, and Germany on their way to the final, but I still thought they’d fall short against the Welsh pair of Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton. Yet they were superb again in the final—especially Rock, who really made his mark this tournament. This win could well be the stepping stone he needs towards a major individual title in the PDC.”

He also had positive words for the Dutch team. “I think they can look back on a good tournament. Yes, maybe it was a missed opportunity to go all the way given England’s early exit, but reaching the semi-finals in their first outing as a pair, and playing some great darts along the way, is a solid result. Up until the semi-final, they’d only dropped two legs. In the end, Wales were just a bit too strong. But in the absence of Michael van Gerwen, this looks like a strong duo for the future—and possibly future World Cup winners.”

Finally, Mats gives a special mention to an eye-catching Asian pairing. “I also want to highlight Team Hong Kong. You don’t often see players like this on major televised tournaments, but they were outstanding and really put themselves on the map—building on their previous World Championship appearances. Hats off to Man Lok Leung and Lok Yin Lee!”

“For me, the World Cup of Darts is one of the tournaments I look forward to most each year,” says Bram Coenen of Dartsnieuws.com. “Especially after the Premier League Darts, where you're watching the same players week in, week out, it's refreshing to see some lesser-known names in action.”

Like many, Bram had England down as the clear favourites. “Honestly, I couldn't see who would be able to beat them. Sure, there are always surprises at the World Cup, but beating England—with Luke Humphries and Luke Littler at their best? That seemed impossible.”

Yet, that’s exactly what happened. And for Bram, that’s the beauty of the sport. “That it actually did happen—and in their very first match, no less—is what makes sport so special. It proved once again just how unpredictable the World Cup can be, especially now it’s entirely doubles matches. Chemistry between players is crucial, and England just didn’t have it. They might be the two best players in the world right now, but they didn’t form a team.”

Belgium also had a tournament to forget, Bram adds. “In the past, Belgium would always at least reach the second round, but this year marked a new low. The partnership between Dimitri Van den Bergh and debutant Mike De Decker just didn’t work. They let a 3–0 lead slip against the Philippines by missing countless match darts. Painful—and definitely a moment for reflection in the Belgian camp.”

He has high praise for the Northern Irish, though. “I think it’s fair to say that no fan or pundit had Northern Ireland down as finalists, let alone champions. But Josh Rock had an outstanding tournament. He’s been touted as a future major winner for years, and this might well be his breakthrough. Put his name down for the World Matchplay—he’ll head there full of confidence.”

Pieter Verbeek, also of Dartsnieuws.com, counts the World Cup among his favourite events. “After the World Championship, the World Cup is my favourite tournament of the year,” he says firmly. “And as a darts fan, I wasn’t disappointed this past weekend. It might not be the biggest or most prestigious event, but for me, it’s without a doubt the most unpredictable.”

For Pieter, it’s the team format that sets it apart. “It creates a special dynamic—unique matches and moments you just don’t see anywhere else.” He recalls one standout incident: “At what other tournament would you see a player storming angrily towards his own teammate for mistakenly aiming at treble 20 when he should have been going for a double? That actually happened this weekend—with Taiwan.”

Pieter also highlights the importance of team spirit. “As Gerwyn Price said in his post-tournament interview—you need to act as a team, support each other, and show unity. Without that, you’re going nowhere.” He’s equally critical of the English side: “Price made it clear that England lacked that team spirit, and the top duo of Littler and Humphries were punished for it.”

He also appreciates the underdog stories. “It was great to see teams like Argentina and Hong Kong making a strong impression. Argentina had a fantastic debut, reaching the last 16, while Hong Kong gave Wales a real battle in the quarter-finals.”

Pieter rounds off with praise for the final. “After all the drama we’d already seen, we were treated to a legendary final between Northern Ireland and Wales. Josh Rock played the match of his life—it looked for a moment like it still wouldn’t be enough, but he and Daryl Gurney held their nerve. Back in 2020, Clayton’s World Cup win was his breakthrough. With six majors to his name now, maybe we’ve just witnessed the same moment for Rock…”

Mees Dekker (Dartsnieuws.com) was also full of praise for this 15th edition of the World Cup. “I really enjoyed it!” he begins. “England going out in the first round was a big shock, though I did see it coming a little. When the draw pitted them against Germany, you just knew it would be a nightmare for the English. The crowd were whistling and shouting constantly, so it was never going to be easy—though fair play to the Germans, they played brilliantly.”

That upset, Mees says, actually added to the fun. “It was secretly kind of great that England went out early—it made the rest of the tournament much more exciting.”

What stood out most for Mees was the charm of the smaller nations. “The best part of these tournaments is always the lesser-known countries. I absolutely loved Chinese Taipei thinking the leg was over while they still had a double left to hit—what a moment!”

His personal favourites? “The teams I enjoyed most were the Philippines, Hong Kong, Czech Republic and Bahrain. And that crowd moment in Bahrain, when fans started chanting ‘Morgan Freeman’? Just brilliant—those are the little things that make this tournament so entertaining.”

And he has a soft spot for Spain too. “The fact Spain were playing with what’s essentially a soft-tip player? Fantastic stuff!”

He finishes by highlighting the tournament’s unpredictability. “Everyone expected ‘Luke and Luke’ to breeze past the rest. But in the end, it was one of the most entertaining and surprising World Cups in recent memory.”

“It’s always great when tournaments bring surprises—like the 8–0 whitewash by the Netherlands over Scotland, or the incredible comeback by the Philippines against Belgium. Moments like those are what make the World Cup of Darts one of the most enjoyable events of the year.”

Kieran Wood (Dartsnews.com) thoroughly enjoyed the tournament, calling it "one of the most entertaining darts weekends of the entire year. From the moments of hilarity such as the Chinese Taipei team getting embroiled in a war of words amongst themselves against India, to Czech star Petr Krivka losing a tooth because he celebrated too hard, there were also moments of genuine quality, most notably in the form of standout tournament performances from the likes of Josh Rock, Ricardo Pietreczko and Jonny Clayton."

For Kieran, sports are mostly about stories. "And this weekend you had another strong showing for Asian darts with Philippines and Hong Kong especially impressive - the latter of whom have since urged the PDC for more help in breaking down the barriers placed in front of Asian Pro Tour hopefuls," he says.

He obviously calls England's elimination by Germany a key point in the tournament, but as a proud Welshman, his focus is elsewhere. "The continued brilliance of Clayton and Gerwyn Price as a tandem is always brilliant to see, even if they just ultimately came up short in one of the best finals of all-time.

Still, Kieran is mostly looking ahead. "Where will Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney go from here? Will Rock kick on like Clayton did and finally realise his potential as a PDC major winner? Is that the kickstart Gurney needed to start a resurgence back to the kind of form that saw him win multiple major titles and become a regular star of the Premier League? Time will tell, but one thing for sure is they were the deserved World Cup winners."

Finlay Williams (Dartsnews.com) calls this edition of the World Cup the best in recent years. "There have been some astounding storylines involving England and Northern Ireland, plus the fact I am still struggling to get over my heartbreak from Scotland's woeful performance, the World Cup has always been about the lesser fancied nations for me," he says.

In particular, he points to the Asian countries. "The Asian nations were always going to have a breakthrough this year, and to see it come from Hong Kong was not a surprise. Man Lok Leung has been a breath of fresh air since coming to the forefront of Asian darts two years ago, and he has a really stellar partner in Lok Lin Yee, who is capable of some astounding performances but struggles with consistency if nothing else."

The Philippines also impressed Finlay. "Paolo Nebrida especially being one of the players of the tournament in my eyes, and to see Tengku Shah play the way he did for Malaysia was a fantastic surprise, and one that has been well earned given how much of a trailblazer he has been in that regard."

He emphasizes how important this tournament is to the growth of darts in Asia. "Paul Lim finally appears to have a worthy Singaporean teammate, and can consider himself unlucky to have not qualified for the knockouts alongside the dynamic Phuay Wei Tan, and the same could be said for China, who were really solid in their swansong victory against Ireland in the group stage. Overall, this tournament has been a fantastic advertisement for the growing Asian game, and that's not even getting into the antics from the Chinese Taipei team or the godlike hairstyle of Mohan Goel."

In addition, he was pleasantly surprised by the Czech Republic. "A team that has typically struggled at this event," he notes. "Whilst Karel Sedlacek was undoubtedly the better player of the pair, Petr Krivka impressed me on debut with his combination finishing. He just needs to work on his scoring and I am certain we will see him on the Pro Tour soon enough."

Finally, Finlay looks ahead to South Africa. "A team that I feel can be a genuine force in years to come. Cameron Carolissen has impressed me no end this week and I think a step up to the Pro Tour is inevitable, notwithstanding finances. However, to see Devon Petersen back on the stage dancing along to 'Waka Waka' put a smile on almost everybody's face (maybe not Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, though!) and with the African Warrior getting back to his best, and not forgetting the steady hand of Simon Adams on the back burners, we could see a stability in South African darts that Petersen has only been able to dream of in the last ten years."

Jack Clucas (Dartsnews.com) also looks back on an incredible edition of the country tournament. "From the beginning to the end there was non stop drama and that’s something which should be applauded. From Asian teams defying the odds to another brand new winner, the drama and tension of this years event was unlike any other."

He looks back on England's elimination. "That pretty much set the tone for what was to come. A well below par performance from Littler and Humphries didn’t live up to the pre tournament hype and they were subsequently knocked out. For Pietreczko and Schindler this win was mammoth and even going forward it seemed as if they could mount a serious challenge for the title, however their loss to Northern Ireland in the next round provided yet another shock result. Maybe not in terms of the overall result but instead the fact they suffered an 8-1 loss, as the host nation this was widely unexpected."

The highlight for Jack? "Josh Rock’s inspired form throughout. Rock hit a ridiculous amount of 180’s for Northern Ireland in the World Cup, despite playing as a pair. This was for me the reason why Northern Ireland eventually prevailed as the winners of this year’s World Cup. Daryl Gurney also played his part by providing the finishing touches at the end of the legs, more than a few times throughout their matches."

Jack also praised the Dutch team. "A word goes out to the Netherlands as well after their pairing featured Danny Noppert and Gian Van Veen who won 16 legs in a row throughout the groups and into their first knockout game. They were eventually knocked out against Wales in an 8-5 loss but they certainly did themselves proud following the withdrawal of Micheal Van Gerwen pre tournament."

And then there is Team Wales, "who proved they still have the capability to compete as one of the top pairs in the world. Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton once more were sensational as a pair and that’s something I can’t see changing for a fair few years, barring any minor disasters from either player. Losing to Northern Ireland in a last leg decider just perfectly encapsulated the spirit and quality of this year’s World Cup and I can’t wait to see the next one!" Jack concludes.

Pascal Michiels (Dartsnews.de) looks back with enthusiasm on what he believes was a particularly successful tournament. "The World Cup of Darts is always something special. The presence of so-called lesser countries doesn't just feel exotic — it also brings the sport closer to the fans. Everyone has probably outscored the Argentinian duo at some point or had a fallout with their partner like the pair from Chinese Taipei," he begins.

Among all those duels of country against country, Pascal initially saw the Dutch team as the biggest contender. "Two completely in-sync players who demolished every opponent. Wales and Northern Ireland were already riding the momentum. Germany, with Pietreczko and Schindler, drew England — arguably the worst possible draw. One Luke is known for fast starts — the very young one, Littler — and the other Luke, his partner, is the type who sinks his teeth into a match and suddenly takes off. This alternating rhythm didn’t seem to suit the English. The Germans immediately took the lead, and when England squandered the chance to go 3-2 after coming back from 0-2, it was game over. A phenomenal performance from Ricardo and Martin."

Pascal continued his analysis with the match against Australia, in which he said Heta was in a lone position. "And yet, Germany won by just a single leg. It was nail-biting stuff. But the next round was execution day. Both the Germans and the Dutch had to bow out — probably to the two best teams."

Still, Pascal felt the tension rising toward the final. "As a fan, that’s when you start shifting in your seat thinking, "This is going to be a disappointing final." That happens often when expectations are sky-high. But not this time. The final became the climax of this World Cup. Josh Rock was simply outstanding. Gerwyn Price started slowly, while Clayton was completely locked in by the end. That left Daryl Gurney. At one point, he even missed three darts at double five, and the embarrassment of failure was already etched in his memory."

At 9-9, it was Rock who took the lead. "Daryl suddenly keeps pace. Again Josh Rock, and Daryl has three darts for double 8 to seal it. He hits with his second dart — and Josh Rock completely breaks down."

"He collapses to the ground in tears, while Gurney tries to keep his testosterone in check. Price and Clayton smiled and showed true class in defeat," Pascal concludes. "This World Cup of Darts had so much to offer, but the final was the cherry on top. We devoured it like madmen and were rewarded with a worthy champion as the perfect ending. Darts will not go away. Darts is here to stay."

Nicolas Gayer (Dartsnews.de) underlines how unique the World Cup is compared to other tournaments. "While, as a member of the press, you also gain valuable insights at other events such as the European Tour or various major tournaments into how much certain matches or tournaments mean to players, nothing truly compares to the World Cup of Darts. The significance of wearing the national jersey - regardless of whether a player already has a cabinet full of PDC major trophies at home or is still dreaming of earning a Tour Card at Q-School - became evident again with every second of this tournament."

Nicolas describes how he experienced the unique atmosphere as early as Saturday. " Barely had we arrived at the venue on Saturday and prepared for the first press conference when we were already feeling the full charm of this unique tournament: Karel Sedláček and Petr Krivka, who had just defeated Team Malaysia 8:3, brought a cheerful mood to the press room. Sedláček, normally known for his calm and composed demeanour, could hardly contain his excitement. Krivka, on the other hand, typically a louder and more emotional personality, gave a heartfelt interview about how exhausting and challenging the first months of his PDC career had been."

He praised the Czech duo. "Team Czech Republic stood out with a trait that should be taken for granted - but certainly isn’t: they were a real team. While many teams talked about being a unit and paid each other plenty of verbal respect, only a few duos truly embodied it. Unsurprisingly, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton were among those teams that displayed incredible chemistry - not only on stage. When they sat down at the press conference, they didn’t need to talk about how much they appreciate each other or how well they function as a team - it was obvious the moment they entered the room. Teasing, jokes at each other’s expense, and lots of hearty laughter - even ten minutes after losing the final in a deciding leg. Everyone knows how special the Welsh team is - but it still impressed me how clearly they stood apart from the rest."

About England's elimination, Nicolas is clear. "Gerwyn Price’s comments regarding the failed English team should be taken seriously. The Iceman’s remarks should not be seen as bitter or sore - he even emphasized that he had hoped both Lukes would have a good tournament. And who better to judge team dynamics than the captain of one of the best dart teams in the world?" he asks.

Scotland, however, was the biggest setback for him. "Their crushing 0:8 loss felt like a quiet and unworthy end to the most successful generation in Scottish darts - at least on the World Cup stage. While one half of the legendary duo continues to regularly win PDC titles, his partner seems to be increasingly struggling to find form and success. The problem appears obvious."

Finally, Nicolas praised the championship team. "In my opinion, the triumph of the Northern Irish team can be summed up with a quote from Josh Rock during the winners' press conference: 'We are not finished yet,'" he says. "The success of Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock didn’t feel like the crowning of two careers, but rather the beginning of a new era of dominance at the World Cup of Darts. While Rock, the scoring monster, and Gurney, the checkout machine, complemented each other perfectly on stage, they also displayed a remarkable connection off the board: “We’ve been friends since the moment we first met,” said Daryl Gurney during a press conference over the weekend - a seriously dangerous combination."

And Germany? "Schindler and Pietreczko came across off-stage like a duo that had been playing together for years—and they impressed on stage not only with their complementary playing styles, but also with mutual grit, positive aggression and emotion, and a shared belief and relentless will to win. Although the Order of Merit creates uncertainty from a German perspective and perhaps a new duo will represent the country at the World Cup in a year’s time, I must say: I want more of this. These two can offer German darts far more than "just" a World Cup semifinal."

Olivier Ried (Dartsnews.de) could not put it more clearly: "I love the World Cup of Darts." For Olivier, this tournament is the absolute highlight of the darts year. "No other tournament features so many darting underdogs and unknown players. For every darts nerd, it's a few glorious days packed with action and surprises. I also love the doubles format – the emotions at the World Cup run higher than at any other event."

He is already calling day one memorable. "The very first day already delivered in full: Croatia missed several match darts out of nowhere and lost to Japan, crashing out of the group stage. On the second day, I was lucky enough to be in the arena myself – and the match between Chinese Taipei and India was absolutely epic. Not because of the level of play, but because of the sheer drama it produced."

For Olivier, Asian players may receive much more attention. "Many of them are incredibly talented and bring a unique joy and passion to the sport, rarely seen on stage elsewhere," he explains, with the South Americans also getting a mention. "Argentina reached the last 16 in their debut appearance, as did Malaysia – a team nobody had on their radar. The Philippines knocked out Belgium, despite the Belgians missing seven match darts to reach the knockout stage. Then there was Hong Kong’s fantastic run into the QF – truly heartwarming."

And, of course, Olivier was able to enjoy the fall of favorites. "The biggest disappointments for me were Scotland and Canada. Both played far below their potential, and I had expected a lot more from these two nations. It was also refreshing to see the dominance of “the Lukes” at major events finally broken, especially since almost everyone had picked them as favorites going into the tournament. And of course, it made it even sweeter that it was Germany who managed to knock out England – the Lukes – in a dramatic upset. That was a special moment."

He calls the finale great. "In the end, we witnessed an incredibly high-quality final – by far the best since the format change and possibly the best major final of the entire 2025 season. Northern Ireland, especially Josh Rock, fully deserved the victory in this incredible final. It’ll be exciting to see how this win will impact the careers of both players."

Sylke Puck (Dartsnews.de) noticed prior to the tournament that there were many doubts in Germany about the selection of Ricardo Pietreczko. "In Germany, many voices were raised before the World Cup that Pietreczko was the wrong choice. Niko Springer would probably be far better than Pikachu, but unfortunately, the participants are selected according to the OoM, which takes two years' performances into account, and not according to their performances in recent months."

Still, Pikachu has silenced all critics, she stresses. "Pietreczko has shown that he is a good complement to Schindler. The relationship between the two players was good and this resulted in a great performance that saw them make it to the semi-finals."

Did you also enjoy the past edition of the World Cup of Darts? Leave your findings in the comments!