World Cup of Darts Saturday evening session Round-Up | England and Netherlands survive tricky tests as defending champions Northern Ireland edge Belgium

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries anchored home hopes on Saturday night as they started their campaign at the World Cup of Darts. Also, the Netherlands' duo Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen were also involved. Both avoided scares at times but won through.

England had to deal with utter brilliance from Cristo Reyes who showed once again why he is a force to be reckoned with for Spain but Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are finally on track.

Reyes kicked off 180. He hit 140 to leave 90 on the England throw. Justicia missed double five for a 90 checkout. Littler returned looking at 68 but missed the top of the shop, and Reyes returned to miss two darts. Humphries is back but more darts are missed. Justicia came back but didn't use the marker on double one. Littler finally back for double five. Humphries missed 144 for 2-0. Reyes returned looking at 103 but couldn't get the right treble and Littler returned for double six.

Littler missed 64 for 3-0. Reyes returns but can't get the treble for 120. Humphries eventually back for double five for 3-0. A 90 checkout on double 14 for Justicia who made it 3-1. A 60 checkout for Reyes to make it 3-2 as Spain break back. Justicia missed two darts for 3-3 and Humphries looked at 52 for 4-2. But he missed two darts and allowed Reyes back for 3-3.

Littler hit double 20 for 4-3. But Reyes tied it up at 4-4. England broke on double six for 6-4 though and were now one away as Reyes was unable to anchor them further. But the twist followed as England missed match darts both on double 20 and Reyes is back. But he misses two to hold. Littler misses two more for the win though and Justicia is there for double 10.

A 180 from Reyes as Spain looked to break. Justicia can't hit 102. Littler looked at 89 and he finally got over the line.

While Van Gerwen and Van Veen for Netherlands navigated a Swedish storm as Jeffrey de Graaf and Oskar Lukasiak made life very tough for the duo.

It was great to start as Van Gerwen hit a 74 checkout to lead. A 180 from MVG. A 140 from Van Veen leaves double 12 for the Netherlands. MVG poked in the double last dart to make it 2-0. A 150 from MVG to leave 95 as Van Veen took aim on the treble for double 19 target for 3-0.

But Netherlands missed darts to hold and De Graaf who is Dutch born hit double eight for 3-2 to break. A 75 checkout from Lukasiak on double 20 sees Sweden make it 3-3. Van Veen back for double 10 but he misses three darts and Lukasiak looks at 155 which he pins to break and make it 4-3.

Lukasiak left it handy for De Graaf on 90 with Netherlands not on a finish. De Graaf went the wrong route and Van Gerwen returned for 74. He missed double 20 though and Lukasiak returned for double 14 to make it 5-5.

Van Veen took aim at 77 and he missed double 20. Lukasiak returns but misses double 20 himself. MVG hit double 10 for 6-5. Lukasiak poorly busts 16 but De Graaf returned with Netherlands not on a finish. He missed three darts though and Netherlands hit double 16 through MVG for 7-5.

Home hopes Germany took down a tricky Czechia test which also threatened to go the distance. To start, 180 from Gawlas left 136. Schindler hit 140 to leave 121. Pietreczko returned but he slipped into the wrong bed going for 121. Gawlas went for 90 and had a dart at the bull which he missed. Schindler returned to break on double 11 after a superb adjustment. Lukasiak hits 85 on double 20 for an 11-darter to break back but in the end Netherlands hit back pinning a 70 checkout to get over the line 8-6.

Schindler left Pietreczko 74 but he missed two darts. Sedlacek looked at 141 but he couldn't pin it and Schindler looked at double six. He hit it last dart for 3-0. Sedlacek missed three darts for the first leg on the board. Pietreczko looked at 82 and pinned double 20 for 4-0 for a break. Czechia missed dart after dart through both Gawlas and Sedlacek. Schindler missed the bull for 5-0. Finally Gawlas hit double two for 4-1 to break. Now they were throwing for 4-2 down.

Double 10 for Schindler continued Germany's control for 5-1. Pietreczko missed 67 on double 16 but Schindler returned for 6-1 to romp the opening session. A 70 checkout missed by Pietreczko and Sedlacek returned for 90 for 6-3 down. Sedlacek missed darts to hold but Pietreczko missed 105. But Gawlas missed more darts to hold. Schindler missed even more darts though on double nine and Sedlacek finally hit double eight for 6-4.

Germany positioned themselves one away but Czechia were eventually back for 7-5. Czechia were emphatic in power scoring to hammer the German throw but Pietreczko hit 180 and left 57 in case Sedlacek didn't hit 52. He did hitting double eight and Czechia were suddenly throwing for a decider. Then finally Germany sealed the win.

Northern Ireland opened the night against Belgium in a hotly anticipated tie and it was the defending champions who just about squeaked through.

To start, De Decker missed 106 and Gurney hit double four to make it 1-1. The defending champions levelled in the process.

84 from De Decker to leave 56 as Rock took aim at 135. But Van den Bergh came back for 56. He missed two darts though. Gurney came back but missed 78. De Decker returned for double 10 again to make it 2-1. Van den Bergh slapped in a last dart treble 19 to leave 51. But Rock took aim at 103. He missed double 20 though and De Decker returned for a clean kill 51 for a break. 3-1 Belgium at that point.

77 and double 20 for 4-1 as De Decker screamed as Belgium made it 4-1. Rock hit back with an 80 checkout on double 20 as Northern Ireland made it 4-2. 89 to leave double 16 as De Decker came back to make it 5-2. Rock missed 80 for a hold but Belgium could only pressure back on 182. Gurney returned on double five for 5-3.

Belgium were first to a finish on 139. De Decker missed it but Van den Bergh was left double 20. He missed all three darts and allowed Gurney back to thump in double 20 to break for 5-4. Rock missed double 16 for 5-5. De Decker returned for double 16 for 6-4.

De Decker couldn't take the marker on 120. Rock returned to switch for 34 for 6-5 to break again and he was throwing for 6-6. Rock took 108 down to 32 to set it up for Gurney on return to break again. 'Superchin' though missed three darts on the wire and De Decker returned to take aim at 80. He pinned double 20 for 7-6. Double four for Gurney sent it all the way.

134 for Van den Bergh. Gurney though responded himself with 136. Rock hit 140 to leave 102. Gurney hit it superbly to win.