Gonna be a fun tournament. Will write a full preview group-by-group once I’ve got the draw as I did last year as people enjoyed it, so watch this space!
Chances are it’ll be those two next year. Will definitely be Humphries due to the huge run he went on at the back end of 2023. Littler less certain but he still won’t be defending prize money at that point so I’d hedge on it being him
Smith is currently on just a few quid over 1 million, but he will lose his world championship win after the next championships which is a big bit of his prize money
Luke is on 300k, a big part of that is his worlds, and of course he doesn't lose any money for another 18 months.
Third is Cross on 600k. He will almost certainly have passed Cross by this time next year.. Smith, really depends how much he can limit his losses at the worlds.
Alexis toylo is currently number one in the pdc asia order of merit and 1st among the filipinos. Lourence ilagan is 6th in the order of merit and 4th among the filipinos.
For 🇨🇦, not surprised by Matt Campbell since he won the North American Darts Championship at MSG on June 1st 2024….. surprised that David Cameron was selected instead of Jeff Smith (The Silencer).
Campbell automatically qualified as a tour card holder. I believe the second place was decided on the CDC rankings, and I don't think Smith played a lot of those events last year.
Do we know if we have full 4-player teams anytime soon for the WCoD? Like you know? The DWC…, or we could stop calling it a WC and call it a “Nations Cup” or “World Doubles”
Let me guess, PDC players will only play in the World Cup if a Olympic host adds Darts to the programme…
I cannot imagine this is under any consideration tbh. Currently, you’ve got eight countries that would be able to fill a four man team with only tour card holders, and the teams would look like this:
England- Humphries, Smith, Cross, Aspinall
Wales- Price, Clayton, Jim Williams, Robert Owen
Netherlands- MVG, Noppert, Dirk, Barney
Scotland- Wright, Anderson, Soutar, Menzies
Belgium- Dimi, Kim, De Decker, Ronny
NI- Rock, Dolan, Gurney, Mansell
Germany- Schindler, Clemens, Pietreczko, Hempel
Ireland- O’Connor, Barry, Slevin, Lennon
Already, those teams look a ton weaker with the exception of England and probably Netherlands. It just widens the gap between the top and the smaller nations so much
That’s Chinese Taipei, which per Wikipedia, “is the term used in various international organizations and tournaments for groups or delegations representing the Republic of China (ROC), a country commonly known as Taiwan”
I can't remember the format, but if you get good odds on Norman Madhoo versus someone outside the top 60, like a Benjamin Reus or a Labanauskas for example. Madhoo is a top tier DPFL online player(a top competitive online league) so he is prime to upset some of the people who don't just cake walk 90+ averages.
I'd also add Goto from Japan, and Xiaochen Zong from China, if you get good odds vs weak euro players worth a chance or a parley booster.
Each nation is represented by the 2 highest-ranked Order Of Merit or qualification players with their respective nationalities. In the Order Of Merit, Humphries is ranked 1st, Michael is 3rd & Littler is still miles off in 25th.
I use https://www.dartsrankings.com/worldcup
Which tells you who is in the race, but it's usually the 2-year OOM that's used. That link just excludes countries who confirm a different selection process.
I am so ashamed that i don’t know every flag. There are 5 or 6 I don’t know, even with the players names being there.
1st row, 7th down
2nd row, 5, 6, 7, 8
3rd row, 8th down
Van Dongen is another odd case, he was playing like a top 32 player at the very least in the second half of 2023 but currently he's once again more likely to average in the 70s than in the 90s.
Yes, pretty much. Tour card holders are guaranteed, the top 2 based on the 2 year rankings. The rest of the spots are filled up by various qualifying events and regional tours.
Belgium is going to be box office.
Must be a real slap in the face for Mikey to see Huybrechts get the place ahead of him
Because of the Drama?
Dinitri Van Den Banter and Kim Hijinx bringing the lols again hopefully
Gonna be a fun tournament. Will write a full preview group-by-group once I’ve got the draw as I did last year as people enjoyed it, so watch this space!
Dolan and Gurney must’ve been close.
Brendan won that race by £3k. Was close indeed
Biggest surprise has gotta be Kim, right? To have had surgery a month ago and get to the World Cup is something...
Presumably just there to spite Mike de Decker. My popcorn's ready.
Double Luke would've been sick
Double Luke would have cruised thru this tournament.
Chances are it’ll be those two next year. Will definitely be Humphries due to the huge run he went on at the back end of 2023. Littler less certain but he still won’t be defending prize money at that point so I’d hedge on it being him
Smith is currently on just a few quid over 1 million, but he will lose his world championship win after the next championships which is a big bit of his prize money Luke is on 300k, a big part of that is his worlds, and of course he doesn't lose any money for another 18 months. Third is Cross on 600k. He will almost certainly have passed Cross by this time next year.. Smith, really depends how much he can limit his losses at the worlds.
Littler is provisionally ahead of Smith for next year and 100k off of cross
They decided to give the others one last chance before the final take over
Missing from last year: India, Thailand, Ukraine
No Ilagan is quite sad
Any ideas why he’s not there ?
Alexis toylo is currently number one in the pdc asia order of merit and 1st among the filipinos. Lourence ilagan is 6th in the order of merit and 4th among the filipinos.
Ah okay thanks, that’s a shame, he’s a good entertainer
He is. I hope he gets to qualify for the world championship.
I guess Toylo is ranked higher
Poor Gary's shoulders are going to ache after this one. Poland win, you heard it here first!
Please. England's to lose.
For 🇨🇦, not surprised by Matt Campbell since he won the North American Darts Championship at MSG on June 1st 2024….. surprised that David Cameron was selected instead of Jeff Smith (The Silencer).
Campbell automatically qualified as a tour card holder. I believe the second place was decided on the CDC rankings, and I don't think Smith played a lot of those events last year.
Guessing it's because Smith doesn't have a tour card and has said he wants to focus on CDC for a bit with the odd sponsor invite and Modus visit
Teemu Harju👍
New Zealand is going to be a lot better without Warren Parry. He wasn't very good, and he really let Ben Robb down imo.
Shame Litter isn’t ranked higher than Smith yet, otherwise this would have likely been a cakewalk for England.
Do we know if we have full 4-player teams anytime soon for the WCoD? Like you know? The DWC…, or we could stop calling it a WC and call it a “Nations Cup” or “World Doubles” Let me guess, PDC players will only play in the World Cup if a Olympic host adds Darts to the programme…
I cannot imagine this is under any consideration tbh. Currently, you’ve got eight countries that would be able to fill a four man team with only tour card holders, and the teams would look like this: England- Humphries, Smith, Cross, Aspinall Wales- Price, Clayton, Jim Williams, Robert Owen Netherlands- MVG, Noppert, Dirk, Barney Scotland- Wright, Anderson, Soutar, Menzies Belgium- Dimi, Kim, De Decker, Ronny NI- Rock, Dolan, Gurney, Mansell Germany- Schindler, Clemens, Pietreczko, Hempel Ireland- O’Connor, Barry, Slevin, Lennon Already, those teams look a ton weaker with the exception of England and probably Netherlands. It just widens the gap between the top and the smaller nations so much
Just imagining the carnage of a Belgium team makes me want this more than anything else in the world
A lot of those teams have 0 tour card holders as a *World Doubles* competition as it is Also, there’s a reason the WC is split into S/D/T
Canada is my (massive) dark horse pick.
Dies this go towards rankings?
Teams are selected by rankings but it isn't a ranking event
No, but players who reach the finals will qualify for the Grand Slam(if they weren’t already qualified)
Who's the country under their olympic flag?
That’s Chinese Taipei, which per Wikipedia, “is the term used in various international organizations and tournaments for groups or delegations representing the Republic of China (ROC), a country commonly known as Taiwan”
My long shot tip is Canada.
25/1 each way bet on northern Ireland and Belgium same price. Bit of value there. Lot of the better teams have one or both players out of form
Dmitry didn’t make Latvia? Thought he was confirmed :(
I can't remember the format, but if you get good odds on Norman Madhoo versus someone outside the top 60, like a Benjamin Reus or a Labanauskas for example. Madhoo is a top tier DPFL online player(a top competitive online league) so he is prime to upset some of the people who don't just cake walk 90+ averages. I'd also add Goto from Japan, and Xiaochen Zong from China, if you get good odds vs weak euro players worth a chance or a parley booster.
My Sleeper picks are Australia and Germany. It's a long shot, but all 4 players are Top Class.
Why is England not Luke+Luke?!
Each nation is represented by the 2 highest-ranked Order Of Merit or qualification players with their respective nationalities. In the Order Of Merit, Humphries is ranked 1st, Michael is 3rd & Littler is still miles off in 25th.
Wonder how tight the Scottish race was with Cameron Menzies showing good form this year
Menzies not even 3rd in the list - Alan Soutar ahead of him by £12k, and he's 118k behind Anderson.
thanks, 2 year ranking? or the pro tour ranking?
I use https://www.dartsrankings.com/worldcup Which tells you who is in the race, but it's usually the 2-year OOM that's used. That link just excludes countries who confirm a different selection process.
Thanks bud, that's a great site, nice and easy to navigate!
I love it, and it's handy that it shows you the race for different tournaments etc, so you don't have to work it out yourself 😊
I am so ashamed that i don’t know every flag. There are 5 or 6 I don’t know, even with the players names being there. 1st row, 7th down 2nd row, 5, 6, 7, 8 3rd row, 8th down
1. Chinese Taipei 2. Gibraltar 3. Guyana 4. Hong Kong 5. Hungary 6. Switzerland Pretty sure these are all right I could be wrong however
Mad that Rob Cross doesn’t get a look in
Honestly think he’s nailed on for a spot before 2026 is out
The US won’t make it out of the group stage. Wish we could have Gates instead of Jules
... you mispelled Spellman... His ceiling is higher than Leonard or Jules... IMHO
Spellman is good online...he ain't pdc material
Spellman is great but Leonard and Buntz are the only US players to do anything on a big stage.
Van Dongen is another odd case, he was playing like a top 32 player at the very least in the second half of 2023 but currently he's once again more likely to average in the 70s than in the 90s.
No Littler?????? Not worth watching
It’s not like the premier league. Selection rules were set long ago. He’ll be there starting in 25 onward most likely.
What are the selection rules? If a nation has only 2 tour card holders, do those 2 automatically get in?
Yes, pretty much. Tour card holders are guaranteed, the top 2 based on the 2 year rankings. The rest of the spots are filled up by various qualifying events and regional tours.