The remaining places in the last-16 were confirmed this afternoon with the final group games. Perhaps unsurprisingly, all of the seeded teams made it through and won their groups to avoid each other in the second round. Round-up:
Group A: England were comfortably through after posting a 93 average in their second game against Austria. Two doubles from Phil Taylor put England 2-0 ahead before Maik Langendorf won the first leg against England in this tournament. England comfortably went 4-1 ahead as Langendorf would again prevent the inevitable for one more leg. Adrian Lewis found the winning double in the seventh to cruise through. The second defeat for Austria sealed Japan's passage into the second round. Final table:
1. England 4 +8
2. Japan 2 -4
3. Austria 0 -4
Group B: The Republic of Ireland did win the group, but lost to South Africa which meant the group was decided on leg difference. South Africa, needing the victory, quickly put themselves 2-0 ahead. Charl Pietersen then made it 3-1 before two Irish doubles levelled the score. Pietersen again found a double but Connie Finnan forced a deciding leg. The South Africans performed solidly in the final leg and Pietersen again found the double to put South Africa through. Final table:
1. Republic Ireland 2 +4
2. South Africa 2 0
3. Denmark 2 -4
Group C: Scotland helped Canada progress by beating Sweden in a rather comfortable victory. Scotland took a 3-1 lead before Magnus Caris fired a fantastic 147-checkout to pull a leg back. But Robert Thornton instantly replied with a 119-checkout and then found the double in the seventh leg to win 5-2. Final table:
1. Scotland 4 +5
2. Canada 2 -1
3. Sweden 0 -4
Group D: Wales posted the fourth whitewash of the tournament against Italy. Richie Burnett found four of the five doubles as they coast into the second round. The second defeat for Italy means that Spain also progress into the next round. Final table:
1. Wales 4 +8
2. Spain 2 -1
3. Italy 0 -7
Group E: Netherlands proved why they were the team to beat by whitewashing Gibraltar, the fifth of the tournament. Raymond Van Barneveld posted three doubles on the trot to put the Dutch 3-0 ahead. Gibraltar had a chance to win the fourth leg but Michael Van Gerwen managed to win it on double one before Van Barneveld sealed the game. Gibraltar's second loss sees Poland go through. Final table:
1. Netherlands 4 +7
2. Poland 2 -4
3. Gibraltar 0 -8
Group F: Germany avenge their defeat to USA in last year's competition by dumping them out of this tournament. Two doubles from Larry Butler had put the USA 2-0 ahead but Germany responded to level the scores. Darin Young made it 3-2 before USA missed four darts to go 4-3 ahead. Germany took full advantage by taking the eighth leg via a 101-checkout from Jyhan Artut. Finland are the beneficiaries as they join Germany in the nest round. Final table:
1. Germany 4 +4
2. Finland 2 -1
3. USA 0 -3
Group G: Australia won the battle of Oceania and with it take Croatia through to the second round with them. Australia led 2-0 and 3-1 before Simon Whitlock posted a superb 121-checkout on the bull to make it 4-2. Paul Nicholson then completed the game with a 106-checkout. Final table:
1. Australia 4 +7
2. Croatia 2 -2
3. New Zealand 0 -5
Group H: Northern Ireland dismantled Hungary, who won only one leg over their two games, to ease into the second round with Belgium. Two doubles from Brendan Dolan made it 2-0 before Nandor Bezzeg posted Hungary's one and only leg of the entire tournament. Mickey Mansell proved to be just as good as yesterday with the next three doubles to win the match. Final table:
1. Northern Ireland 4 +7
2. Belgium 2 +2
3. Hungary 0 -9
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