“The stage is where I enjoy my darts best, the fans really make the
sport great and it’s amazing to be back.
“It was like having a brother on stage. Graham’s been ranked number
one in South Africa while I was injured and I knew he’d be good on
stage, and he took to it like a duck to water.
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
“You can only progress when you’re in the competition, and we’re still
in. On our day anyone can win this tournament.”
John Part lined up three darts along the top wire of double twenty to
clinch the match for Canada when they faced Japan, but the Japanese
pair of Haruki Muramatsu and Morihiro Hashimoto fought back from 4-2
down to secure a 5-4 victory.
The second round line-up was completed by USA, who defeated
Hungary, Hong Kong, who defeated Norway, Austria, Sweden and Spain.
Second Round
At the second round stage the format called for two games of singles
and a game of pairs, meaning the aim for some of the lesser nations
was to force the match into a deciding pairs in the hope of opening up
some cracks in the senior teams.
The USA were able to do just that against England. Phil Taylor got the
English pair off to a flyer, but when Darin Young defeated Adrian Lewis
the pressure was on the number one seeds.
In the end it was perhaps a slightly over hyped pairs match and there
were certainly no cracks as Lewis and Taylor gelled well to progress
2-1.
“Simon’s the
captain and I’m
the wingman, and
I’ll do whatever
he asks of me to
try and win this
tournament for
Australia”
Paul Nicholson
“We’re on course for the hat-trick and we’re feeling good,” said Taylor.
“Adrian hit some great shots when I asked him to in the Doubles game
and if he relaxes a bit on Sunday then he could do anything.
“A couple of years ago I struggled in the
Singles and Adrian pulled me through,
and last year it was the other
way round and I pulled him
through, but we’re gelling
together well and I think
it’s going to come
together on Sunday.”
Photos: PDC/Lawrence Lustig