The 22nd edition of the WDF World Cup was held in Cluj-Napoca in Romania. The Grand Hotel Italia is the venue from 7 to 12 October. All participant numbers records are broken. No less than 52 teams in the men’s competition, 46 ladies’ teams and 19 countries also sent their youth to Romania.
It will be a WDF World Cup without any incident which runs like clockwork and that is an incredible compliment to the organizing country that is itself relatively very small as a darts nation. No fewer than six new countries make their debut in Romania. Croatia, Egypt, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine are included for the first time.
In 2019, the tournament gets a Japanese winner for the first time in history; Mikuru Suzuki wins the final 7-3 over English ace Deta Hedman. On her way to the final, Suzuki beats Anna Hlavova, Areum Kim, Merve Erden, Maria O’Brien, Maud Jansson and in the semi-final defending champion Vicky Pruim.
Hedman does not get off to a good start in the final and has to settle for silver for the second time in her career, in addition to her 2013 gold medal. Trina Gulliver-MBE remains the only lady with two singles titles.
The bronze this year goes to Vicky Pruim on behalf of Sweden and to New Zealand’s Tori Kewish.