ENGLAND A are the DartAsylum JDC World Cup winners for 2024 after beating Netherlands B 4-0 in the final in Gibraltar.
Ryan Branley, Archie Self, Jack Nankervis and Kieran Thompson produced their finest performance of the day when it mattered most to beat a talented Dutch side and become world champions.
Having beaten China B, Norway B and Italy in the group stage without dropping a leg, England then saw off the challenge of Netherlands A, England B and Mongolia, before a comprehensive victory against Netherlands B.
It is the third time England have been champions of the world – and they denied the Netherlands a third global crown in the process.
The Dutch quartet of Kendji Steinbach, Bradley van der Velden, Ruben Baalmans and Daan Toxopeus, however, deserve so much credit for their performances over the past two days. They edged a classic against Benelux neighbours Belgium A in the first knockout round, before beating Italy and Ireland A to reach the final, where England just proved too strong for them on the day.
Branley got England off to a winning start as he edged a high-quality contest against Steinbach. Steinbach, who won the Winmau Junior Open on Monday, won the opening leg despite Branley kicking off with a 180. Branley then held throw in 16 darts, before putting England 1-0 up in the final after opening another leg with a maximum.
Self doubled England’s advantage with a 2-0 win over Van der Velden, another of England’s key players hitting top form at the right moment. Self took out 72 to hold in 18 darts, before back-to-back tons put him in a strong position to break – which he did in 17 darts.
Nankervis continued the theme for England, recovering from losing the opening leg against the in-form Baalmans to edge the set 2-1. Baalmans hit back-to-back tons on his way to opening up a lead, only for Nankervis to respond, clinching the set with an excellent 15-dart leg under pressure with Baalmans waiting on 20.
Thompson completed the clean sweep for England, beating Toxopeus in the final singles match. He kicked off with a 135 en route to holding throw, before Toxopeus hit back to draw level. But Thompson ensured there would be no need for doubles as he closed out the match, kicking off with a 140 before completing a 17-dart leg to ensure England are world champions for 2024.
England deserved their crown, coming through tough tests against Netherlands A, England B and Mongolia earlier in the day but never letting their collective average drop below 75.
They really showed their quality and composure against England B in the quarter-finals, being pegged back to 2-2 in the singles having led 2-0, only to close out victory in the doubles.
Against Mongolia, they won the singles 3-1 but were given a slight cause for concern when Anand Gan-Erdene and Tergel Khurelkhuu beat Thompson and Branley in the doubles, only for Self and Nankervis to get the job done in the next doubles set.
On an excellent day of international darts, there were excellent team and individual performances from many nations, but England A emerged victorious.
RESULTS:
Final:
England A 4-0 Netherlands B
Ryan Branley beat Kendji Steinbach 2-1
Archie Self beat Bradley van der Velden 2-0
Jack Nankervis beat Ruben Baalmans 2-1
Kieran Thompson beat Daan Toxopeus 2-1
Semi-finals:
England A 4-2 Mongolia
Netherlands B 4-1 Ireland A
Quarter-finals:
Mongolia 4-1 Scotland A
England A 4-2 England B
Netherlands B 4-1 Italy
Ireland A 4-2 Northern Ireland A
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