WDF World Cup – Day Three

The Girls’ Singles events kicked off today with the Round-Robin Groups, and Cyndi Kelley and Kellie-Mae Buzzell were both in action. Despite some improved performances, the competition proved too strong, and they were unable to make it out of their groups.

While the Girls were engaged in battle, Kaden Anderson and Seth Patenaude were playing in the Boys Pairs. Group C was topped by the Hungarian duo of Andras Borbely and Zsombor Baranyi, who went unbeaten, but Kaden and Seth were too good for the other three teams, and advanced with just the one loss to the Magyars.

In the Quarter-Finals, they took on Australians Terence Morton and Jack Spencer. The Americans raced into a 2-0 lead before the Aussies pulled one back, but a nice 17-darter restored their 2-leg advantage. They had a chance to clinch it 4-1, but 3-1 became 3-2. Six clear darts to win the match in the sixth leg failed to find the mark, and we were in the decider. A shot at a 74 out went begging, and it was the Australians who made the semis. A heartbreaking end to a match that could have been so different.

Paula Murphy and Carolyn Mars faced Japan’s Kiyo Shimizu and Yuna Yamamoto in the Women’s Pairs Prelim. On the face of it, not an easy opener, but the Americans grabbed the win by score of 4-2. This put them in the Last 64 against Michaela Jamnicka and Nina Staskova (Slovakia). A slow start by the M&M’s allowed their opponents to take Leg 1 in just 18 darts, and an even quicker 17 (despite a Murphy 180) doubled the advantage. Two legs later, the match was all square. Two legs later, it was the Slovakians heading to the Last 32.

Cali West and Marlise Kiel joined the event in the Last 64. All seven legs of their match went to the tem throwing first, which meant that it was the Hungarian combination of Veronika Ihasz and Nora Erdei who marched on. Unfortunately, it was a case of a couple of missed doubles here and there, along with some brilliant finishing by Veronika Ihasz – 159, 120, and a match-winning 62.

On paper, the American Mens’ Group in the Team event didn’t look that difficult, and that’s the way it turned out. A brace of 9-1 victories against Liechtenstein and Catalonia was followed by a 9-4 triumph over Bulgaria, and we advanced to the Knockout rounds with plenty to spare. A special mention for Robbie Phillips who didn’t lose a leg during Group play.

In the Last 32, Austria were the opponents. A rocky start saw the European quartet forge a 3-1 lead (Phillips was the lone American winner). A run of five-in-a-row helped settle the squad, and we were 7-4 up when Robbie took to the oche again. This time, he left 40 after 12 darts, only to see Rainer Sturm check out from 109. This was no biggie though, as Danny Lauby posted a 15, and then Bruce Robbins clinched victory by checking out from 60.

Tomorrow, they take on the Czech Republic in the Last 16. At the same time, the American women face Switzerland in the Top 16.

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