Limerick man William O'Connor represents Rep of Ireland at this week's World Cup of Darts

LIMERICK man William O'Connor is representing the Republic of Ireland at the 2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts which begins later today, Thursday, in Frankfurt, Germany.

Cappamore man O'Connor will team up with 22-year-old Meath man Keane Barry for the prestigious tournament. 

The Irish pair get their competition underway later today, Thursday, when taking on Gibraltar in their opening Group D fixture.

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The Republic of Ireland are 8th seeds in the tournament will be hoping to make it out of their group, which also includes China.

William O'Connor was a member of the Ireland team, along with Steve Lennon, which finished as runners-up in the World Cup of Darts in 2019.

Thirty eight-year-old O'Connor, nicknamed 'The Magpie', has a current PDC ranking of 47.

This year’s World Cup of Darts will see 40 nations going head-to-head at the Eissporthalle from June 12-15, with group and knockout stages featuring Doubles matches throughout the pairs event.

England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – the top four ranked nations based on lowest cumulative PDC Order of Merit ranking – will enter the tournament in Saturday's second round.

The remaining 36 nations have been split into 12 groups of three for the round-robin phase – including 12 seeded nations – from which each group winner will progress to the last 16.

The losing nations from Thursday’s opening games will play the third team from each group in Friday's afternoon session, before the decisive final group games are played on Friday evening.

Following the conclusion of the round-robin phase, the draw for the last 16 will take place on Friday evening, as England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland enter the fray in Saturday’s second round.

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will then take place during a bumper double session on Sunday, with the schedule of play for the remainder of the tournament to be confirmed in due course.

The 2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts will be broadcast on Sky Sports for viewers in Ireland

2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts, June 12-15, Eissporthalle, Frankfurt, Germany

Group D
(8) Republic of Ireland
Gibraltar
China

Session Schedule

Thursday June 12 (from 6pm Irish time, live Sky Sports)

First Group Matches (Seeded Nation v Nation 2)

Sweden v Lithuania (G)
Czechia v Chinese Taipei (J)
Croatia v Japan (K)
Republic of Ireland v Gibraltar (D)
Canada v Malaysia (F)
USA v Hong Kong (I)
Poland v South Africa (E)
Belgium v Latvia (B)
Netherlands v Italy (A)
Germany v Portugal (C)
Austria v Spain (H)
Finland v New Zealand (L)