Darts World Cup 2020: Big guns will take center stage on Saturday | Darts news

The Darts World Cup is generally considered to be one of the highlights of the sports calendar. It causes drama, tension and emotion in equal measure, as evidenced by an exciting opening day on Friday in Salzburg.

The 32-nation tournament kicked off with a bang at the Salzburgarena, as former champions from Holland, England and Scotland progressed to the round of 16.

Fourth-seeded Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, a 2019 finalist, were the main victims of the opening round, although second-seeded Wales undoubtedly produced the most impressive performance, with Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton who excelled.

The dynamics of the pairs play is also a fascinating sight and the camaraderie between the teams was pleasant to see.

Rob Cross and Michael Smith – normally rivals on the main stage, delivered as a unit to take on the Philippines challenge, while Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts were positively elated after surviving a scare against the Czech Republic.

Michael van Gerwen enjoyed the seniority role as he teamed up with rookie Danny Noppert, despite there being only two years between the two, while Wales and Germany have also proven their credentials in Austria.

However, the game of pairs is uncharted territory for many of the current protagonists in the PDC and speaking at Darts Show Podcast, Two-time main winner Colin Lloyd has revealed the pressure he can exert.

“Say someone like Rob Cross – he could do whatever he can to leave D18, while Michael Smith we know is a top ten and five hitter. You have to have all of this in the armory, to think to yourself,” Right, usually I go over there for that, ‘Lloyd said.

“You still have to maintain the confidence that you will take the shot, but if you don’t, you have to try to leave it as comfortable as possible for your partner.

“Your partner may look at you, lower their head and think, ‘Ah why did D16 leave me? I hate D16, he could have left me on top.

“Then you start getting negative as a couple. You shouldn’t do this because a double is a double on target, but there are so many different things you need to think about as a couple, you are not just selfish and think of yourself, which is what you do as an individual sportsman “.

Saturday’s action will see singles matches take center stage, with decisive doubles only needed if the two singles matches are shared, which probably favors the more decorated nations.

The unique pair format creates unfamiliarity even for the game’s protagonists, although the prospect of challenging unannounced stars in more ordinary circumstances alleviates the likelihood of shocking outcomes.

“These players are great individuals, but sometimes they don’t know how to react and how to behave in their match as a couple and I think for me, that’s what’s really exciting,” added Lloyd.

“As soon as you start getting to the knockout stage, where the singles are, I think that’s where the big names and pressure players start kicking off and lower tier players will struggle a bit with that.”

Leaders England take center stage on Saturday afternoon when they face Lithuania, led by captain Darius Labanauskas – a quarter-final at last year’s PDC World Championship.

Smith and Cross will be favorites for the quarter-final challenge against hosts Austria, with eighth-seeded Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez battling rookie Portugal, led by enigmatic Jose De Sousa.

Fifth seed Belgium survived a major scare to overthrow the Czech Republic and now Van den Bergh and Huybrechts – semifinalists in 2018 – meet Latvia’s last-breath replacements, which like Portugal marked their World Cup debut with the victory.

Two of last year’s quarter-finals collide in the afternoon curtain as Canada meets New Zealand, with Canada fresh off a clinical trial that saw them cause the shock of the round to dump Northern Ireland.

However, the second round tie is a showdown between the two-time Wales finalists and the holders of Scotland, represented by John Henderson and Thornton.

The new Scottish duo are aiming to retain the title claimed by Peter Wright and Gary Anderson nearly 18 months ago, even as they face a huge challenge against an unstoppable price and a fit Clayton.

Four-time victors Holland continue their fifth World Cup run against former semi-finalist Spain, as world number 1 Michael van Gerwen tries to return to victory, with help from emerging Danny Noppert .

Another intriguing showdown ahead is a clash between Australia’s former finalists and an unannounced Polish partnership, with both nations producing formidable performances to defeat the Republic of Ireland and South Africa respectively.

Elsewhere, the sixth-seeded Germany is aiming to qualify for the quarter-finals for the third time in four years against Greece, in the second round for the first time in World Cup history.

It has been touted as one of the most open world cups since the tournament began in 2010 due to Van Gerwen’s fluctuating form, the absence of Wright and Anderson and the uncertainty surrounding England.

However, the pressure to represent your country is also a crucial factor and Lloyd is curious to see how the works will play out in the coming days.

“There is that extra pressure: you don’t just play for yourself, but you represent your country. I don’t think there is more honor in the world of sport than wearing the jersey to represent your country”, the former world n. 1 continued.

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“Some people find it’s a little too much pressure to handle, but some people also think it’s just another darts game.

“Representing your country can sometimes do weird things to players, can pick up their game, find something that hasn’t been there in the past month or two.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s going to be a lot of pressurized fun. I’ll be sitting there with a big bowl of popcorn watching some people squirm while other people thrive.”

Don’t miss a dart at this weekend’s Darts World Cup – the action continues from 12 noon on Saturday Sky Sports Arena and we will have the remaining four sessions while the new champions will be crowned.