Gabriel Clemens was unfortunately eliminated in the third round of the Darts World Cup. In the end, the Englishman Luke Humphries was a size too big for the “German Giant”.
It was a remarkable comeback by Gabriel Clemens in the 3rd round of the Darts World Cup. However, the “German Giant’s” performance wasn’t quite enough in the end to defeat Luke Humphries.
After initial difficulties and a 3-0 set deficit, the German challenged the Englishman to the maximum and brought him to the brink of defeat. In the end, Clemens lost 2:4 – and Humphries moved into the round of 16.
Clemens, who had not given up a set before this game, had found his best form a little too late. “Unfortunately I didn’t start the match well. But suddenly I was back in it, I don’t really know why? But Luke deserved to win because he had the better start.”said Clemens on Sport 1.
After Martin Schindler, who played against Ryan Searle in the afternoon had no chance, Clemens now also has to travel home early.
Clemens shows nerves
Clemens started confidently and even won the first leg easily. Humphries initially seemed a little nervous in front of his home crowd. But he immediately followed up in the second leg and secured passage. Nevertheless: “Gaga” Clemens’ scoring was initially good, the first 180 followed at the beginning of the third leg.
But suddenly the “German Giant’s” nerves didn’t work anymore, he missed the chance to finish – and Humphries didn’t miss this opportunity. The 2024 world champion secured the third and then the fourth leg because he chose the right throws in the crucial moments and converted them safely. The first set was (too) quickly in the Englishman’s hands.
Humphries
At the start of the second set, Humphries followed up without batting an eyelid. A 180 paved the way to winning the first leg. Clemens stuck with it and took the second leg, even though it took him two attempts to finish.
But the second in the world rankings was a tough nut to crack and didn’t let himself lose his throw and concentration – he took the leg to make it 2-1. And the same picture in the third leg: Clemens had the chance to finish, Humphries reaped the rewards because the German showed nerves again in the end. The second set was also lost for Clemens.
“Gaga” suddenly turns up the heat
The third movement started as the previous two had ended. With a show of force from Humphries. The first two legs clearly went to the Englishman. But then, when he had nothing left to lose, “Gaga” turned it up again.
Suddenly Clemens’ arm ran and the arrows flew where they were supposed to for two legs in a row. But Humphries was not impressed by this “run”, on the contrary: the third leg and thus the third set went again to the favorite.
Clemens with high form
But this high form continued for Clemens – and he seemed to surprise himself. The German was almost unstoppable and won all three legs and the first set. Any nervousness had disappeared and the anger over the missed opportunities seemed to inspire the 42-year-old.
And the fifth set also went to Clemens because he kept his nerve again when the score was 2:2. Clemens seized his chance and secured the set with 3:2 legs.
Humphries ice cold
In the sixth set, both fought a battle of equals, in which Humphries once again had the better nerves with the score at 2:2 legs.
Clemens previously had three chances to finish and equalize after sets to make it 3-3 – and missed each time. In the following leg, Clemens appeared stable again, but the Englishman struck ice cold, securing the leg and thus the decisive fourth set.