World Cup of Darts: The greatest shocks in tournament history – Including England's 2010 fiasco

The World Cup of Darts has become one of the most beloved fixtures on the PDC calendar — celebrated for its unique format, emotional intensity, and the unpredictability that comes with representing your country on the world stage. Nowhere else in darts do we see the same blend of national pride, team dynamics, and raw emotion.

This Thursday, the 2025 edition gets underway in Frankfurt, with 40 nations vying for glory. With that in mind, it’s the perfect time to reflect on some of the most unforgettable upsets the tournament has ever seen — matches where underdogs ripped up the script and etched their names into darting folklore.
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The World Cup couldn’t have asked for a more dramatic start in its debut year. England — fielding Phil Taylor and James Wade at the peak of their powers — were overwhelming favourites. Spain, meanwhile, arrived as relative unknowns: Carlos Rodriguez and Antonio Alcinas were barely familiar names outside the Iberian Peninsula.

And yet, the Spaniards made their intentions clear from the outset, checking out 104 in the first leg. England appeared to settle, establishing a 4–2 lead, but Spain roared back. Rodriguez took out the bull to cut the deficit, then nailed a 125 finish to level. When Alcinas found double 18 for 5–4, the upset was in full swing.

England forced a decider — but Spain saved their best for last. A flawless 11-dart leg, fuelled by two 180s, completed the shock of all shocks. England’s World Cup debut ended in humiliation. Spain, buoyed by their performance, went on to reach the semi-finals before falling to the Netherlands.

Two years later, the tournament delivered again. Scotland, represented by Gary Anderson and Peter Wright, were tipped to go deep. Their opponents, South Africa, sent out Devon Petersen (still years away from his peak) and the little-known Shawn Hogan.

The Scots dominated the singles, with both players winning their matches convincingly. But in the doubles — worth double points under that year’s format — everything changed. South Africa played with grit and belief, overturning expectations with a 5–3 win to force a sudden-death leg.

Cool under pressure, the South Africans held firm. As the 19th seeds, they booked their place in the quarter-finals, knocking out one of the tournament favourites in the process. A narrow loss to Wales followed, but their upset over Scotland became part of World Cup folklore.

In 2013, Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld looked set to dominate the competition. Arguably the most formidable duo ever assembled, they were widely tipped for the title. But in their first appearance together, they fell victim to a script rewrite.

Jarkko Komula and Jani Haavisto of Finland had scraped through the group stage and seemed unlikely to pose a threat. But the Dutch were sloppy on their doubles, and the Finns pounced. At 3–4 down, Van Gerwen missed three darts at double 18 to level the match.

Finland seized the moment — Komula checked out 50 via double 10, sealing an extraordinary victory. They rode the momentum past Germany in the quarter-finals, only to be halted by Belgium in the last four. But their win over the Netherlands stands among the tournament’s most iconic moments.

Scotland were on the receiving end again in 2017. As number one seeds, Anderson and Wright were expected to cruise past Singapore in the opening round. Instead, they ran into a storm.

Paul Lim and Harith Lim — no relation but long-time teammates — outplayed the Scots from the outset. Paul Lim was especially sharp, punishing missed doubles and firing Singapore to a 3–1 lead. Though they squandered a chance to extend the gap, they held their nerve.

More errors from Scotland opened the door, and Lim sealed it with a 100 checkout for a stunning 5–2 victory. Singapore then beat Spain before falling to Belgium in the quarter-finals, but their upset over the top seeds still resonates.

Ireland produced one of the most emotional journeys the tournament has seen in 2019. William O’Connor and Steve Lennon began their campaign with a routine 5–1 win over Greece. But it was the last 16 clash with England that lit the fire.

Lennon edged out Michael Smith 4–3. Then came the moment of truth — O’Connor vs. Rob Cross. O’Connor played the match of his life, averaging 115 to Cross’s 106 and storming to a 4–1 win.

Ireland dispatched Austria in the quarters and faced the Netherlands in the semis. Van Gerwen beat Lennon, but O’Connor levelled the tie against Jermaine Wattimena. In the deciding doubles, the Irish averaged over 100 and whitewashed the Dutch 4–0.

They eventually fell to Scotland in the final, but their campaign left a lasting legacy — and belief that a darting fairytale is always possible.

Last year, it was Italy’s turn to defy expectations. Michelle Turetta and Massimo Dalla Rosa were considered total outsiders. Turetta had a Tour Card but no notable TV results. Yet they won their group ahead of Portugal and the USA.

In the last 16, they faced 2022 champions Australia. Seven match darts came and went for Heta and Whitlock, and Italy capitalised — Turetta hitting the winning double in a moment of pure drama.

Italy then took Belgium to a deciding leg in the quarter-finals before finally bowing out. It was a heroic campaign — the first time Italy had ever reached the last eight — and a reminder of just how much this tournament can surprise.

Austria deserve special mention. In 2021, Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez emerged as giant-killers, knocking out Belgium, Northern Ireland, and top-seeded England to reach the final. Scotland proved a step too far, but Austria had made their mark.

In 2024, they repeated the feat. Suljovic and Rodriguez returned to the final after another inspired run, including a semi-final win over Belgium. England ended their dream, but back-to-back finals confirmed Austria’s arrival as a World Cup heavyweight.

As the 2025 World Cup of Darts gets underway, anticipation is at fever pitch. With a record 40 nations, the revamped pairs format, and a field brimming with potential surprises, all bets are off.

England, with world champion Luke Littler and world number one Luke Humphries, enter as favourites. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that no team is safe. On the World Cup stage, reputations can be shattered and new legends born in a single night.

Could we witness another fairy tale? Another unforgettable shock? One thing’s for certain — when it comes to the World Cup of Darts, expect the unexpected.