Former finalists Republic of Ireland came out on top in a thrilling contest against Gibraltar to reach the second round of the World Cup of Darts with a perfect record.
William O’Connor and Mickey Mansell only needed two legs to secure their passage to the knockout stages but went behind when Gibraltar broke their throw immediately.
Ireland hit back in the next to level before the third leg started with nine perfect darts from both teams, with O’Connor eventually pinning double six to take a 2-1 lead.
The Frankfurt crowd went into raptures when Craig Galliano checked out 158 to draw Gibraltar level once more, but Ireland wrapped up the next two legs for a 100% record.
They will face Poland, who also advanced with a 100% following their victory against Switzerland.
Wales only needed two legs to progress and sealed their spot in the last 16 with a 4-1 success against Thailand. United States stand in their way for a place in the quarter-finals after beating Canada in their Group G decider.
Meanwhile, James Walklin declared Trinidad and Tobago’s first win at the competition as the “best experience of my life” – even better than his wedding.
The debutants left Frankfurt on a high following their final-leg decider against Latvia, narrowly missing out on a place in the last 16 on leg difference.
The Caribbean nation looked set to suffer successive Group J defeats when Latvia broke in the fifth leg, but Walklin and partner Joshua Balfour took the final two legs to get themselves on the board.
Despite exiting the competition, Walklin was willing to risk the wrath of his wife after his country’s maiden triumph.
“If you don’t get butterflies in your stomach for any endeavour in life then it’s not worth doing,” he said.
“It was the – I’m going to upset my wife now – best experience of my life. I have no children. The best experience of my life.
“Yeah it was better than my wedding. It was fantastic.”
Germany produced another dominant display with a 4-2 triumph over New Zealand and Cristo Reyes averaged 104.33 as Spain, considered Group K outsiders, progressed with a 4-1 hammering of Japan in their final fixture – they will take on the number one seeds England in the last 16.
Defending champions Northern Ireland were drawn against Belgium, who only advanced by virtue of leg difference following Slovenia’s 4-2 triumph against Hong Kong.
Fellow top-four seeds the Netherlands and Scotland face Sweden and Norway, respectively, and France’s reward for coming from 3-1 down in their shoot-out against Austria and snatch a place in the next round against Latvia.