“This guy is like a lighthouse for Latvian darts” - Valters Melderis hails Madars Razma after Latvia make World Cup history

Latvia’s first ever World Cup of Darts quarter-final has given Valters Melderis the biggest stage of his career and Madars Razma another marker in his role as the country’s leading figure in the sport.

After an 8-7 win over France sent Latvia into a quarter-final against defending champions Northern Ireland, Melderis described Razma as “a lighthouse for Latvian darts”, praising the man who has carried the country’s presence on the PDC circuit while insisting their run in Frankfurt can point to something bigger back home.

The match itself was tense rather than spectacular. Latvia averaged 79.53 against the 77.8 of Thullier and Tricole, led 4-2, landed back-to-back 110 checkouts later in the contest, and still needed a deciding leg before sealing the country’s first World Cup quarter-final.

Melderis needed a moment when speaking to Dartsnews.com in the post-match press conference, after Latvia’s place on the final day was put to him. “That sounds amazing,” he said. “Can you repeat it, please?”

Razma gave the same answer with a smile before adding: “It is an amazing feeling, of course, to be in the final day tomorrow.”

Melderis came through the Nordic and Baltic route to reach the World Cup, while Razma has long been Latvia’s established name on the PDC stage. In the press conference, Melderis put that contrast at the centre of the country’s breakthrough. “Listen, this guy is like a lighthouse for Latvian darts in the PDC, because he is doing all the hustling, all the travelling, and earning the right to be a professional darts player,” Melderis said.

For Melderis, Latvia’s run has already gone beyond one match or one weekend. He said the experience should show others at home that a route into major darts is there. “I am just happy to have the opportunity to qualify for this event through the Nordic and Baltic circuit,” he said. “I think it is a sign to everybody that if you have a chance to try, you can do it.”

Melderis also pushed back against any idea that Latvia’s progress begins and ends with the two players on stage in Frankfurt. “I am a good player, but we have more good players in Latvia,” he continued. “This experience, even in the first year when we lost, I wish it for anybody to experience, because it is amazing to be among professional darts players. It is incredible.”

Razma returned the praise to his partner. Melderis had struggled the previous night, and Razma said part of his own role had been helping him recover. “I would like to say well done to Valters, because after the game last night he did not play well,” Razma said. “I tried to do everything to get Valters back. I know his performance, he can play, and I think I did well.”

Latvia’s win over France was built on shared pressure rather than a clean run to the line. Both players had difficult spells, but both also dragged the pairing through key moments.

Melderis admitted his mindset in the final leg was simple after struggling for rhythm at times. “For me, just try to score at least something, because I have been struggling in the last three games,” he said, before Razma interrupted with a grin: “You played only two games before.”

Melderis laughed, then explained the faith he had in Razma if the double arrived. “Anyway, I was just thinking: okay, just score something, and I know that if Madars gets the double, he will do it. He did it.”

Razma said he was thinking along similar lines. “Same for me,” he said. “I just tried to hit something for scoring, and then if he gets the double, he will hit.”

The pair kept coming back to the same idea. This was not Razma carrying Latvia or Melderis enjoying the ride. It was a partnership surviving a match that could easily have escaped them.c“Most important, there is no Madars and Valters,” Razma said. “There is Team Latvia. We are a team. We try to help each other every single second. That is important.”

Asked whether the France win had been a genuine team effort, Razma said the match had swung between them. “Sometimes he did not play well, so then the next three darts for me were amazing,” he said. “A few minutes later, maybe I missed something, and he changed the game with good scoring. It was teamwork.”

Melderis added: “Team effort.”

Latvia had never previously reached the World Cup quarter-finals, and both players expect the run to be noticed at home. Melderis said the sport is already developing beyond the established names.

“For sure,” he said when asked whether a deep run could increase attention in Latvia. “I think there is exposure. We see that there are more youth players in Latvia, with the work from people who organise darts in Latvia. More adult players and more women players are coming every year.”

For a national team still carving out its place on the World Cup stage, the quarter-final itself already carries weight. “I think any event where there is success for the national team is huge,” Melderis said. “Even if we just got to the quarter-finals, it has never happened before.”

Razma confirmed the scale of the result. “Yes, it has happened for the first time,” he said. “Team Latvia reached the quarter-finals in the World Cup.”

The possibility of Latvia eventually hosting a major PDC event was also raised. Razma called that “several steps” away for now, but said “nothing is impossible with the way darts is growing”. Melderis was more blunt, saying: “If you ask me, it is all about money.”

Razma still spoke warmly about his place in the sport. “For me, I can only say thanks to Barry and Eddie, because I can live my dream,” he said. “I can play darts. I can do what I love. I am enjoying my lifestyle at the moment.”

Latvia now face Northern Ireland, after Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney came through their own 8-7 thriller against Belgium to keep their title defence alive.

Before that match was decided, Razma admitted Belgium would have carried a particular appeal because of a previous meeting with Latvia. “I would like to play against Belgium, just because Team Latvia lost against Belgium years ago, and it was a 50/50 game,” he said. “That is the only reason for me.”

A quarter-final against Rock and Gurney is now the challenge instead, and Melderis framed it as a rare chance rather than an intimidating draw. “Madars is playing these guys week in, week out,” he said. “This is my biggest opportunity. Who knows? Why not? Let’s bring it on.”

There was still room for humour when Razma was asked whether Latvia could relax and take in the moment before the final day. “I cannot change my flights to England!” he joked.

The serious part was simple enough. Latvia will enjoy the night, return on Sunday, and play. Razma even borrowed Gary Anderson’s favourite line to sum up the mindset, saying the next step is to “just play darts”.

Latvia have already reached new ground at the World Cup. Against the defending champions, Razma and Melderis now get the chance to find out how much further Team Latvia can go.