Wales defeat England to claim maiden World Cup of Darts title

Wales are the winners of the 2020 World Cup of Darts for the first time with a superb victory over England in the final seeing them off 3-0.

The duo of Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton came into this weekend with a point to prove as favourites and they have done just that with a clean sweep over Michael Smith and Rob Cross. They have also avenged two prior final defeats in 2010 and 2017 to cross the line for the first time.

Price gave Wales the upperhand early with a clinical display to see off Smith punishing just 10% on the doubles from 'Bully Boy' to win through in a 4-1 victory.

This gave Rob Cross an uphill struggle to remain in the tie and give England something to build on going into the pairs game in the first to three scenario.

It was even more so with Clayton producing a brilliant display once again to see off Cross in a 4-2 win with a 105 average, three 180's and 66% on the doubles to put Wales in pole position.

Cross led proceedings with a 2-1 lead but Clayton took out double 20 for a 13-darter to square it up at 2-2 and he went one away from there with an 84 checkout to break and go into a 3-2 lead.

Cross from there missed a chance at a 122 checkout with double seven missed and Clayton who set up with a 119 came back to pin double eight for the win.

Wales' brilliance continued into the pairs game as Clayton hit double five to make it 1-0 but despite England levelling from there, Price hit double 20 to go 2-1 ahead.

Leaving 128, Wales were well ahead and 112 to leave double eight with double four hit saw Wales go one away from victory at 3-2 up.

England announced they weren't done with a phenomenal 142 checkout and a 12-darter to make it 3-3 and send it to a decider. Would Wales get over the line or will we go to further singles games?

Wales had the throw though and smashed in a brilliant 64 checkout to claim victory with a 15 darter to become champions.

World Cup of Darts 2020 Schedule

Quarter-Finals

Canada 1-2 Belgium

Singles 1: Jeff Smith (97.57) 1-4 (108.32) Kim Huybrechts

Singles 2: Matt Campbell (97.56) 4-1 (94.42) Dimitri van den Bergh

Pairs: Smith/Campbell v Huybrechts/Van den Bergh

England 2-1 Austria

Singles 1: Michael Smith (101.54) 3-4 (109.52) Mensur Suljovic

Singles 2: Rob Cross (89.36) 4-3 (83.54) Rowby-John Rodriguez

Pairs: Smith/Cross (82.28) 4-3 (79.88) Suljovic/Rodriguez

Wales 2-1 Australia

Singles 1: Gerwyn Price (98.04) 4-3 (104.13) Simon Whitlock

Singles 2: Jonny Clayton (99.87) 2-4 (102.25) Damon Heta

Pairs: Price/Clayton (98.8) 4-2 (89.38) Whitlock/Heta

Netherlands 1-2 Germany

Singles 1: Danny Noppert (84.91) 3-4 (88.58) Gabriel Clemens

Singles 2: Michael van Gerwen (87.00) 4-1 (77.24) Max Hopp

Pairs: Noppert/Van Gerwen (82.42) 3-4 (93.57) Clemens/Hopp

Evening Session (18:00 GMT)

Semi-Finals

England 2-0 Belgium

Singles 1: Michael Smith (96.57) 4-3 (88.60) Kim Huybrechts

Singles 2: Rob Cross (94.53) 4-3 (90.59) Dimitri Van den Bergh

Wales 2-0 Germany

Singles 1: Gerwyn Price (94.36) 4-2 (90.51) Gabriel Clemens

Singles 2: Jonny Clayton (103.79) 4-2 (93.72) Max Hopp

Final (best of 5)

England v Wales

Singles 1: Michael Smith (96.89) 1-4 (95.38) Gerwyn Price

Singles 2: Rob Cross (94.41) 2-4 (105.69) Jonny Clayton

Pairs: Smith/Cross v Price/Clayton

(Singles 3:)

(Singles 4:)