PREVIEW: Germany at the World Cup of Darts: Will home advantage finally deliver top prize?

The World Cup of Darts gets underway tomorrow in Frankfurt. Home country Germany is seeded seventh and will take on New Zealand and Finland in the group stage.

The World Cup of Darts was first organized in 2010. It was also the only time, other than 2020, that the tournament was not held in Germany. Indeed, that year the tournament took place at the Rainton Meadows Arena in Houghton-le-Spring. Among the 24 participating countries, Germany started the tournament as the tenth series leader. The German team included Jyhan Artut and Andree Welge. In the opening round, Germany got the victory as a gift because the Czech Republic dropped out of the World Cup of Darts at the last minute. In the second round, the German pair faced the Netherlands of Raymond van Barneveld and Co Stompé 6-2.

First time in Germany

Currently, the World Cup of Darts is held every year, but in the early days it was only every two years. In 2012 the tournament took place in Germany for the first time, the Alsterdorfer Sporthalle in Hamburg was host. Jyhan Artut got a new teammate with Bernd Roith, but it was not a great success. Germany, which had a free draw in the first round, went down 2-1 against the United States in the second round. Artut won his singles match against Gary Mawson, but after Roith lost to Darin Young, the doubles match had to bring the decision. It was eventually won 5-4 by the American duo.

A year later, Artut again got Welge on his side. This time the tournament started with a group stage for the first time and the German pair defeated Finland and the USA in their group so that they advanced to the knockout stage as group winners. After first beating Poland, Finland awaited them again in the quarter-finals. Artut gave Germany the lead, but after Welge lost to Jarkko Komula, the doubles match was also lost 4-3.

The 2014 edition was particularly disappointing for Germany. It was also the last time Artut and Welge formed a duo and they went down immediately in the opening round against South Africa. In 2015, Artut got a great talent on his side with the then 18-year-old Max Hopp. Artut and Hopp successively defeated India and Austria, so that England awaited them in the quarterfinals. After Phil Taylor first won 4-1 from Artut, then Hopp had to acknowledge his superiority to Adrian Lewis 4-0.

2016 was the last year Artut was there at the World Cup of Darts, but he and Hopp were not at all lucky with the draw that year, losing in the first round to the strong Australia with Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson in the ranks.

In 2017, Hopp got a new teammate with Martin Schindler. The two young Germans reached the quarterfinals in both 2017 and 2018, but each time the Netherlands was too strong. In 2019, it already went wrong in the second round after a defeat against Belgium.

It was also Schindler's last appearance for the time being, as Hopp got a new teammate in 2020 with Gabriel Clemens. The World Cup of Darts would normally take place in Germany again that year, but due to the corona pandemic, the tournament was eventually moved to early November in Salzburg. Hopp and Clemens seemed relieved away from the pressure of the German home crowd, though, and through wins against Finland and Greece in succession, they pulled off a huge shock against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. Clemens opened with a win against Danny Noppert, but Michael van Gerwen balanced the boards again with a win against Hopp. In the pairs match, however, the Germans triumphed 4-3 to qualify for the semifinals for the first time in World Cup of Darts history.

Wales awaited in those semifinals with Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in the ranks. Price opened with a 4-2 win against Clemens putting all the pressure on Hopp. In the end, however, it was Clayton who won 4-2 to send the Germans home.

In 2021 the World Cup of Darts went to Germany again, Jena more specifically, where the tournament took place in the Sparkassen-Arena. In the opening round a treacherous opponent was waiting with Canada, but Clemens and Hopp did not let themselves be surprised and won 5-3. Japan also went down as a win. In the quarter-finals awaited England. The English were too strong, James Wade opened with a 4-1 win against Clemens and then Hopp had nothing at all to contribute against Chisnall.

2021 was also the last year that Hopp made the German selection for the World Cup of Darts. After all, in 2022 it was Schindler again who made his appearance and who from then on would form a duo with Clemens. That year, the Germans survived a true thriller in the first round to eventually win 5-4 against Spain. After Denmark also lost, Clemens and Schindler had to face Wales in the quarterfinals where they eventually lost out.

Last year Germany started the tournament as the sixth seed and was assigned to a group with Japan and Hong Kong. Both group matches were won comfortably so that qualification for the next round was a fact. In the second round, the Poland of Krzysztof Ratajski and Krzysztof Kciuk was an opponent not to be underestimated, but the Germans did not let themselves be surprised and won 8-6. In the quarterfinals, the sixth-seeded Germans then pulled off a huge upset by beating first-seeded England of Michael Smith and Rob Cross 8-3.

Germany was thus in the semifinals of the World Cup of Darts for the second time in history. Scotland with Peter Wright and Gary Anderson in their ranks eventually proved too strong 8-5.

Finals at last?

This year's World Cup of Darts takes place again in Frankfurt and Germany starts as the seventh seed. For the home country, Schindler (recently the new German number one in the world rankings) and Clemens will again be in action. In the group stage they will face New Zealand and Finland. Especially the first country could cause problems. With Haupai Puha they have a Tour Card holder in their ranks and Ben Robb has long been tipped as someone who can show great things.

Finland, on the other hand, seems to be the weaker team in this pool. Marko Kantele is an established name at 56, but should certainly not be a problem for the Germans. His teammate Teemu Harju did manage to win silver at the WDF Europe Cup Singles in 2022, but otherwise had few appealing results.

What should give the Germans confidence above all is Schindler's strong form this year. The Wall won the International Darts Open in mid-April, his first PDC ranking title. Schindler and Clemens also get along very well, an advantage that should not be underestimated in pair matches. The question is whether Germany can finally reach the final this year or even win the World Cup of Darts. Meeting starting Thursday in Frankfurt.