30/06/2024

Sigh of relief as Belgium save their skin against Italy at World Cup of Darts

Dimitri van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts have joined the last four at the World Cup of Darts. The 'Red Devils' won 8-7 over Massimo Dalla Rosa and Michele Turetta from Italy after a war of attrition. The Italians were one of the surprise packages of this tournament.

Dalla Rosa and his leading man Turetta had earlier caused a sensation by knocking former winners Australia (Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock) out of the tournament. Before that, the Italians won their group matches against the United States (4-2) and Portugal (4-3).

Belgium was responsible for eliminating the Dutch duo Michael van Gerwen and Danny Noppert in the second round. An easy victory over the Italians was expected, but the Belgians had to work extremely hard to take the win.

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Van den Bergh and Huybrechts were into a break deficit in the third leg of the match after the Italian broke them with a 16-darter. A second 16-darter followed to make it 3-1.

However, the deficit was quickly repaired. Van den Bergh brought Belgium back to 2-3 via a 13-darter, and then it became 3-3 via a 21-darter in the sixth leg. Before that, Italy had missed four chances to lead 4-2.

Huybrechts pinned 125 to lead 4-3, but then came a 97 finish from Turetta to tie the score again after eight legs. The next four legs went easily to the country that had started the leg.

Four break chances came for Italy in the thirteenth leg, but they could not be cashed. Van den Bergh hit the double 10 to put Belgium up 7-6. Turetta then forced a deciding leg by producing an 84 check-out in the fourteenth leg. The Belgians started the last leg and a 17-darter gave them a route through to the semi-final match.

It is the eighth time for Belgium to be in the semifinals of the World Cup of Darts. However, only in 2013 did that lead to a final place. Then Kim Huybrechts lost together with his brother Ronny Huybrechts to England's top duo Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis in the final. Against Austrians Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez, the Belgians get the chance to lead their country to the final for the second time.