WORLD CUP OF DARTS TIPS: DUTCH JOY IN FRANKFURT
Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney head to Frankfurt to defend their World Cup title for Northern Ireland – but they face stiff competition to do so.
Odds-on favourites England – made up of world numbers one and two, the Lukes Littler and Humphries – will want to bounce back from last year’s disappointing showing.
The Netherlands are eying a fifth win, and you can’t discount Scotland either with Gary Anderson in the ranks.
Gerwyn Price’s withdrawal makes things a little more difficult for Wales, with Nick Kenny partnering Jonny Clayton, while hosts Germany will be looking to ruffle a few feathers along the way.
We’ve picked out three of the best bets as the World Cup begins…
When is the 2026 World Cup of Darts & where to watch
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Location: Eissporthalle, Frankfurt
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Dates: Thu 11th June – Sun 14th June
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Format: Leg play (group stage best of seven; second round, quarter-finals & semi-finals best of 15; final best of 19)
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How to watch: Live on Sky Sports
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Defending champions: Northern Ireland (Josh Rock/Daryl Gurney)
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Prize fund: £500,000 (£100,000 winners)
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Markets: Click here
Tip 1 – Netherlands to win the World Cup of Darts @ 5/1
Winners of the very first World Cup of Darts in 2010, the Netherlands have lifted the trophy three times since.
Only England, with five, have more than the Netherlands. With world numbers three and four Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen making up their side this year, they will be targeting a fifth victory.
Littler and Humphries are unsurprisingly the 4/7 favourites.
The Nuke has won every major event so far in 2026 – yet last year they struggled to find their rhythm and lost their only game to Germany.
Van Gerwen may not be at his showstopping best these days but when he is on his game he is still a force for anyone; his astonishing 122.34 average against Martin Schindler last month showed that.
And in Van Veen the Dutch have the World Championship runner-up and one of the most clinical finishers on tour.
Even though he failed to make BetMGM Premier League Finals Night, the Giant got the better of both Littler and Humphries along the way.
The 5/1 for a Netherlands win stacks up here. An all-time great and his protege seems like a good mix. The Oranje can bring it home.
Tip 2 – Australia & Germany both to win their groups @ 21/10
Both of these nations topped their groups last year after winning both games and we’re backing both to do so again.
Damon Heta is paired with Adam Leek this year, rather than Simon Whitlock, and they will take on the United States and Canada in Group G.
Group A, meanwhile, sees home nation Germany’s Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko face the Philippines and New Zealand as they look to go further than their impressive showing last year – knocking out England along the way to making the semi-finals.
All of their opponents are capable of springing a surprise on their day, and the Philippines did win their group last year before falling to Wales, but the likes of Schindler and 2022 World Cup winner Heta should be able to navigate their countries to the top of the standings.
Tip 3 – Republic of Ireland King of the Oche vs Singapore @ 27/20
William O’Connor and Mickey Mansell face Singapore in their group opener – and the legendary Paul Lim in the process.
O’Connor, a 2022 World Cup finalist, has represented Ireland in every edition of the tournament and looks in good shape heading into this one.
He reached the final of Players Championship 20 last week, while Mansell actually made the quarters of the World Cup with Northern Ireland back in 2015.
Lim made the quarter-finals of the World Cup with Singapore in 2016 but hasn’t got out of the group stage in any of the last three attempts.
Ireland can hammer home an early advantage in this one as they look to improve on their showing last year, reaching the quarter-finals before losing 8-5 to eventual winners Northern Ireland.
Match odds of 1/10 for Ireland indicate how heavy favourites they are. While there seems little value in a single on that, the 27/20 for O’Connor and Mansell to be King of the Oche (win the match, throw most 180s and have the highest checkout), stands out as a good value pick.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change
