Betway World Cup of Darts 2016: Dates, Draw, Livestream, TV Info and Preview
Netherlands pair Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld will attempt to unseat England's defending champions, Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis, at the 2016 Betway World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt.
It's tough to pick a favourite from these two nations, with both boasting world-class arrowsmiths. So do Scotland, whose players have the momentum and confidence of recent success.
Of the rest of the field, Belgium appear best placed to upset the odds, thanks to the Huybrechts brothers, Kim and Ronny.
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Before a preview, here are the schedule and viewing details:
| Date | Time | Stage | TV | Live Stream |
| Thursday, June 2 | 7 p.m. (BST) | First Round (x8) | Sky Sports 1 | Sky Go |
| Friday, June 3 | 7 p.m. (BST) | First Round (x8) | Sky Sports 1 | Sky Go |
| Saturday, June 4 (Afternoon Session) | 1 p.m. (BST) | Second Round (x4) | Sky Sports 1 | Sky Go |
| Saturday, June 4 (Evening Session) | 7 p.m. (BST) | Second Round (x4) | Sky Sports 1 | Sky Go |
| Sunday, June 5 (Afternoon Session) | 1 p.m. (BST) | Quarter-finals | Sky Sports 1 | Sky Go |
| Sunday, June 5 (Evening Session) | 7 p.m. (BST) | Semi-finals and Final | Sky Sports 1 | Sky Go |
Stream link: Sky Go. For the full breakdown of the draw, along with the format for each stage, visit PDC.tv.
Preview
The favourites shouldn't find progress to the second round too difficult. Taylor and Lewis will be confident when they open against Spain on Friday, while Van Gerwen and Van Barneveld should have few problems with Russia on the opening night.
Belgium are always tricky at this tournament, having made the final in 2013. But a stronger contender is sure to be a Scotland team represented by some serious talent.
World champion Gary Anderson and Robert Thornton, winner of the World Grand Prix, are the most likely pairing to upset both the Dutch and English. Anderson recently claimed another prize by winning the Dubai Duty Free Masters after beating Van Gerwen in the final.
Anderson thwarted the Premier League winner with a double-five late on to end Van Gerwen's three-year grip on the Dubai title, per Sky Sports. It's a win sure to buoy the confidence of the Scots ahead of events in Germany.
Speaking of the Germans, James Dielhenn of Sky Sports assessed the hosts' pairing, Max Hopp and Jyhan Artut, who made it to the last eight last year: "Hopp, the 19-year-old, is rapidly improving and his promise makes a mockery of his No 45 ranking. His partner Artut is 39 and, teaming together for the second time, the unseeded Germans might fancy going beyond the final eight for the first time."
It's an unusual pairing of youth and experience, but on home soil, don't rule the Germans out despite their unseeded status.
One of the more intriguing storylines ahead of the tournament concerns the inaugural use of the Unicorn Eclipse HD2 board, per PDC.tv: "Using the finest "Grade A" sisal, the dartboard also features the new Spider2 Radial Wires and Super Thin Bullseye which provide for a seamless playing surface, improved playing areas around the bullseye and the most visually-stunning dartboard ever."
Hopefully, the promise of an improved playing surface will increase the scoring averages tallied in Frankfurt and contribute to a spectacular event.
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