QUARTET OPEN BWIN WORLD CUP OF DARTS WITH WHITEWASHES
TWO-TIME winners England, host nation Germany, Spain and Japan kicked off the bwin World Cup of Darts with whitewash victories at the Eissporthalle in Germany on Thursday night.
The 250,000 pound event sees 32 nations competing across four days in Frankfurt, with all eight seeded nations who took part in Thursday's opening first round games claiming victory.
England's Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis, the 2012 and 2013 World Cup winners, swept aside Denmark's Per Laursen and Per Skau with the minimum of fuss as they moved into the last 16.
Lewis landed a 180 and a 91 finish to settle any early nerves before Taylor completed a 14-darter in leg two to give England command, and the pair would give their opponents only two darts at a double before completing the win.
"That was a good win because they're two good players," said Taylor. "It wasn't our best performance but it's good to get that first game out of the way.
Adrian's been practising really well and when we click it will be brilliant. He hit the right shots at the right time and it's a pleasure to play with him because we really want to win this title back."
England will now meet Japan in Saturday's second round, after Haruki Muramatsu and Morihiro Hashimoto claimed an impressive whitewash of their own as they ovecame rivals China 5-0.
Muramatsu hit the winning double in the opening two legs before Hashimoto took out 74, but that finish was bettered by an 86 bullseye finish from his team-mate before they sealed victory in leg five.
Germany's Jyhan Artut and Max Hopp thrilled the home crowd at the Eissporthalle by denying India's Nitin Kumar and Ashfaque Sayed a dart at a double in their comprehensive opening win.
Teenager Hopp was making his World Cup debut but played his part in a strong display from the hosts, and said: "I really enjoyed it today and even though it was my debut and I was a bit nervous I loved playing up there."
Germany now take on neighbours Austria after Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez defeated the Czech Republic 5-2.
The Czech pairing of Michal Kocik and Pavel Jirkal made a solid start to win two of the opening three legs, but youngster Rodriguez hit double ten in the next two legs to move Austria ahead before Suljovic pinned double 14 and double 12 to seal the win.
2010 semi-finalists Spain were the night's fourth whitewash winners as they saw off Norway 5-0, with Antonio Alcinas partnered by impressive newcomer Cristo Reyes.
"I love the World Cup because I'm playing for Spain and it's very important for me, so it's good to get this win," said Alcinas, who has played for his country in all five stagings of the event. "We played quite well and I hope we can have a good weekend."
Spain will now play Belgium in an eagerly-awaited second round tie, after brothers Kim and Ronny Huybrechts - the 2013 finalists - defeated the Philippines 5-2.
Kim Huybrechts took out 129 as the brothers took the opening three legs before Lourence Ilagan and Gilbert Ulang took the fourth to get the Philippines off the mark, but the next went to Belgium before Ronny Huybrechts finished 139 to seal the win.
"I'm happy with the 5-1 win because, like Japan, their enthusiasm makes them dangerous and wins them legs," said younger brother Kim. "For both of us together, this is our favourite tournament and this is the one we're going for this year, for ourselves, our family and our nation."
Australia and Gibraltar will also meet in the second round after they also enjoyed first round wins on Thursday.
Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson, the 2012 finalists, enjoyed a 5-1 win over Russia - despite Alexey Kadochnikov's 110 checkout - as they kicked off their bid to finally claim glory for Australia.
"The game was probably closer than the scoreline resembled, but they missed a few doubles and we played pretty well together I thought," said Whitlock
"Paul and I really gel together and we're a good combination. We're good mates and it's easy to play with Paul - and we've got a lot more in the tank."
Gibraltar, meanwhile, enjoyed their first World Cup victory in five tournaments as they overcame Italy 5-2, with Marco Brentegani and Daniele Petri paying the price for missed doubles as they lost out to Dyson Parody and debutant Manuel Vilero.
The victory was especially sweet for Parody, who has competed for Gibraltar in every year of the tournament, as he leapt for joy after lanning the winning double in the game's final two legs.