Netherlands become just second country ever to lose a pairs match averaging 100+ at World Cup of Darts

For the second year in a row, the Netherlands were eliminated by Belgium in the second round of the World Cup of Darts. Michael van Gerwen and Danny Noppert were handed a heavy defeat by Dimitri van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts and, 8-2.

The contest was a high-quality pairs match. The Netherlands threw an average of 100.96, compared to 97.31 for Belgium. On the doubles, however, the Belgians were a lot more effective; 14 to 53 percent. It is not often that a country loses a pairs match at the World Cup of Darts with an average above 100. In fact; in the history of this event, that has only happened once before.

Only the Czech Republic previously lost a pairs match with an average above 100. At the 2021 World Cup of Darts, Karel Sedláček and Adam Gawlas went down 5-2 against Poland despite an average of 103.47. Krzysztof Ratajski and Krzysztof Kciuk threw an average of 104.97 in that match.

That Poland average currently ranks 10th in the top 10 highest pairing averages ever at the World Cup of Darts. That list is also led by Poland. At the 2023 edition, Ratajski and Kciuk threw an average of 118.10 in their match against Lithuania (4-1 win).