Day Three WDF Europe Cup Youth: Reigning World Champion Paige Pauling excels for England

The third day of the WDF Europe Cup Youth 2025 in Assen brought plenty of spectacle and emotion. In a packed Bonte Wever the boys played the team tournament, while the girls continued their battle for the title in the singles tournament. With great victories, high finishes and a thrilling conclusion, England hit the fore again.

England avert drama-filled semi-finals

Dramatic elimination in semifinals

On stage, the Netherlands faced a strong Scotland. The Scots took the lead, but the Netherlands fought back to 8-5. The final was within reach. Van der Velden got several matchdarts, but could not decide the match. Scottish top talent Mitchell Lawrie turned the match completely around and decided the match with a 15-darter and an unprecedented last leg (180-140 start): 9-8 for Scotland. A bitter defeat for the Dutch team, which just missed out on a place in the final.

England on the otherhand saw off Lithuania 9-4 in their Quarter-Final and while less dramatic, it was a 9-7 win over Belgium in their semi-final. Mason Teese among others leads the England side into the final day with representation mostly from England in the semi-finals of the boys like in this tournament when England and Scotland go head-to-head.

Final (Saturday afternoon): England vs. Scotland

Girls singles tournament: Pauling proves too strong

Reigning world champion too strong

In the knockout stage, it was Fardau de Jong who had bad luck with the draw: she faced Paige Pauling, the reigning world champion. Pauling proved to be too big and won convincingly 4-0, thanks to finishes of 64 and 100 and a 16-darter. Pauling went on to see off Nicole Sescu Gal.

She now faces Aysegül Karagöz with Iida Lanko and Ruby Grey in the other semi-final so like the boys it could be an all England final.

Saturday: finals on the program

With one day of play remaining, the finals of both the boys' team tournament and the girls' singles tournament are scheduled for Saturday afternoon. England and Scotland will compete for gold in the boys' event, while in the girls', the next semifinals are scheduled:

Semifinals girls single:

• Aysegül Karagöz vs. Paige Pauling
• Iida Lanko vs. Ruby Grey