Poland pair Ratajski and Kciuk survive double woes as Moustache Maestro Dante stars for Italy to begin World Cup of Darts
PDC
The World Cup of Darts has begun with Poland pair, Krzysztof Ratajski and Krzysztof Kciuk starting up with a thrilling 4-3 win against Portuguese pairing, Jose de Sousa and Luis Ameixa.
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Little was known about Ameixa but for most of the start of the tie, he was the double hitter and turned into the scorer towards the end in an impressive debut.
But despite doubling woes at times, Ratajski and Kciuk finally got over the line.
It was a solid start for Portugal with Ameixa starting his TV debut hitting double 10 to make it 1-0. De Sousa hit the first 180 of the match but missed 98 to make it 2-0. Ratajski had a look in anguish after a poor effort at double 20 from Kciuk though and Ameixa again hit the double.
Ratajski and Kciuk were left on a nine-dart finish after back-to-back 180’s but the former missed the eighth dart for a 141 but double six saw Kciuk break back and bring Poland back to 2-1.
Poland struggled on the outer ring though with Ratajski having to save them after anguish following Kciuk’s misses and it was 2-2.
Kciuk delivered another 180 but their double woes continued. De Sousa busted though on 10 and Ratajski finally hit double 10 to break and send Poland one away at 3-2. Ameixa produced a maximum for Portugal as they attempted to survive.
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He followed it with a 170 to leave 32 and De Sousa as captain sent it all the way where they’d have the throw.
It was a 180 to start for De Sousa but after a slack visit, Ratajski left 121 for Kciuk but there was no match dart. De Sousa returned for 89 and got a match dart at the bull which he missed. Captain Ratajski returned to seal it.
But while the more experienced team of Poland took victory, Italy broke a duck of 12 years.
The fired up pairing of experienced Michele Turetta and Massimo Dante took to the oche and saw off Swiss duo, Marcel Walpen and Stefan Bellmont.
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It was in particular the moustache of Dante that impressed but he was pretty handy on the oche too in a pairing potentially to watch sealing it 4-3.
Dante’s hit the first maximum of the World Cup of Darts to start the tie and a ton to leave double 12 saw Italy on the board first.
Turetta chipped in with a 180 himself to leave 164. He missed 121 on the bull and Dante got a chance to make it 2-0. He missed two darts but Italy were well ahead and Turetta hit double 20 for 2-0.
Switzerland got back on track with a superb 98 checkout from Walpen to make it 2-1. Italy held throw to make it 3-1 with a superb 66 checkout on double 18.
A 137 from Bellmont saw Walpen get a shot at 50 but despite missing Bellmont returned for double eight to make it 3-2. He got a shot at 80 to send it all the way but missed one dart.
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Dante though couldn’t hit 143 and Walpen returned for double 10. Italy with Turetta began with a 180 after Bellmont hit 140. Italy though were first to a finish sat on 93 with Bellmont leaving 74 for Switzerland.
Turetta couldn’t get a match dart but set up double 12 for Dante to be the hero and after a disaster for Walpen going for 74, the Moustache Maestro sealed it.
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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
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