World Cup of Darts: Netherlands, Germany, Republic of Ireland among first-night winners in group stage

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Hong Kong were loving their win over Team USA! Enjoy their best celebrations!

A Michael van Gerwen-less Netherlands made an impressive start on the opening night of the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, where hosts Germany and the Republic of Ireland were among the other winners.

With the top-four seeded countries - England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - not entering the tournament until Saturday's second round, the first two days in Germany feature 36 other nations battling it out to join them in the last 16 in the pairs format.

The first-round nations are split into 12 groups of three, with the winner of each progressing.

Four-time winners Netherlands took early control of Group A by taking just seven-and-a-half minutes to dispatch Italy 4-0 with world youth champion Gian van Veen stepping into Van Gerwen's illustrious shoes alongside Danny Noppert.

Germany, who are fielding Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, were made to work a little harder by Portugalbut came out on top with a 4-2 victory.

Republic of Ireland duo William O'Connor and Keane Barry won by the same scoreline against Gibraltar

But there was little opening-night cheer for North America.

Canada's Matt Campbell and Jim Long were beaten 4-1 by Malaysia, who claimed their first victory in the tournament, while Hong Kong beat the USA by the same scoreline.

After a shaky start when they lost the first leg against the throw to Latvia, Belgium duo Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh came through their first match 4-1.

Austria, meanwhile, impressed in their 4-1 win over Spain which saw Mensur Suljovic and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez record a joint average of 99. Indeed, veteran Austrian hero Suljovic averaged 105.5 for his throws.