World Cup of Darts 2022 preview

The 2022 World Cup of Darts gets underway this week. There will be 64 players from 32 countries competing in the event. Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen won't be playing.

Wales are the pre-tournament favourites for the World Cup of Darts 2022. Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton are two of the world's top ten players. They won the trophy for Wales in 2020 and have both improved since then. Price won World Championship in 2021 and became world number one. Clayton won Premier League and reached semi-finals of US Dars Masters this month.

England are the defending champions. They are in the same half of the bracket as Wales. The odds are pointing towards an all British final. Rob Cross and Joe Cullen won't play. Last year's team was beaten by Austria in semi-finals. England have to be wary of Poland and Portugal.

Danny Noppert and Dirk van Duijvenbode are the Dutch team for the World Cup of Darts 2022. Michael van Gerwen is absent. The team is without the world number three. The Netherlands have won the tournament three times in a row. Phil Taylor is the only player to have done that.

Scotland are the reigning champions. Peter Wright and John Henderson are looking to repeat their success from last year. Gary Anderson is not in the team. Henderson has slipped down the Order of Merit below Alan Souttar. He is the fourth highest ranked Scottish player. The Highlander earned the opportunity to return to the stage after winning the trophy last season.

Henderson proved the doubters wrong last year and he can do it again.

Belgium and Australia are considered dark horses for the World Cup. Belgium have a team with world No. 9 Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts. Australia has Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock, ranked 20th and 25th in the world respectively.