The 23rd edition of the WDF Europe Cup was held at the x-bionic® sphere in Samorin, Slovakia. The men's tournament starts with 40 teams. Eight countries leave their women at home. There are no debuting countries for the first time since 2016. The Europe Cup was played from the 25th to the 28th of September.
In the women's team event, England is the defending champion. Deta Hedman, Lorraine Winstanley, Clair Brookin & Beau Greaves won in Spain in 2022. This year the title goes home with the Netherlands. The quartet Priscilla Steenbergen, Lerena Rietbergen, Aletta Wajer & Noa-Lynn van Leuven are too much for Slovakia in the final, consisting of Katerina Nagyova, Martina Sulovska, Nina Staskova & Lucia Jankovska.
In the quarterfinals, eight countries are still competing for the prize, including defending champion England, which this year consists of Samantha Kirton, Paige Pauling, Natalie Gilbert & Steph Clarke. They win this round against the Finnish quartet Sari Nikula-Sauvola, Kirsi Viinikainen, Iida Lanko & Tiia Parnanen, with 9-6. The shock of the tournament, however, follows in the semi-final when host country Slovakia surprises friend and foe by beating the English women. Katarina Nagyova, Martina Sulovska, Nina Staskova & Lucia Jankovska win with 9-7.
The Dutch team plays in the semi-final against the strong Irish team consisting of Robyn Byrne, Caroline Breen, Katie Sheldon and Ailish Finnan. Ireland won this event a year earlier at the World Cup, but this year they must bow to the Dutch team that is too strong, with 9-4.
In the final, the magic of team Slovakia has disappeared a bit and they are no match for the Dutch ladies, losing with 9-4. This is the first time in the history of the team event for the ladies that the English ladies do not take home the title.