Stompé looks back on 2010 World Cup of Darts triumph: "I thought we’d never make it in time, but I was lucky enough to know somebody working with KLM"

The tenth edition of the World Cup of Darts begins in Salzburg on Friday with Netherlands taking the first iteration back in 2010 and for one half of that pairing, Co Stompé, it was unforgettable for many reasons.

For Stompé, it was a familiar pairing with Raymond van Barneveld with previous wins together. “We were used to playing pairs in league games,” Stompe said to Weekly Dartscast. “For us it was like playing darts every night in the local pub, where you would play pairs.

“In the pairs I was confident, because me and Raymond won the Europe Cup (pairs in 2000) and we’d won the Dutch Open a couple of times. We knew how to play that game.”

A snowstorm played havoc that year when it came to the tournament but fortunately for Stompé, he knew some connections that helped him get there in time

“We wanted to fly on the Thursday evening, but there was a big snow storm,” Stompe said. “All the flights were cancelled and we had to play early on the Friday evening.

“I thought we’d never make it in time, but I was lucky enough to know somebody working with KLM, the Dutch airline. They booked us two seats on a flight for Friday morning. That was our luck.

“We got picked up from the airport at three o’clock and went straight to the hotel, got changed and went to the venue. An hour later we were on the oche, so it was great start!”

On reaching the final, it was one that Stompé remembers as being one he was massively up for and also one where he played excellent when it came to it.

“I was really up for it,” Stompe added. “I was feeling so angry inside. I just wanted to win the final so bad.

“It was my best game the whole weekend, the pairs in the final. I didn’t miss anything, finishing and doubles I was hitting everything, apart from the double to win it. I missed three darts for it.

“Raymond hit the winning double and we were so happy. We all know what Raymond can be like when he doesn’t win tournaments, but he was over the moon. He was the number one player from Holland. I just wanted to be there to help him and we made it happen."

“I remember during the final giving him a bit of mouth. He felt like he didn’t play his best darts and was moaning and I said ‘oh, shut up and just play darts!’

“He picked it up after that and gave me a little smile as if to say ‘yeah, you’re probably right. I shouldn’t be moaning, I should be playing.”