After Gabriel Clemens and Nico Springer, Kai Gotthardt is the next German darts player to be eliminated from the World Cup. Things were still looking good for the debutant at the start of the second round.
Kai Gotthardt was able to win his first match at the Darts World Cup against Alan Soutar. In the second round at Alexandra Palace in London, the tournament debutant suffered a defeat and was eliminated. In the duel with world number eight Stephen Bunting, the 29-year-old lost 1:3 after sets.
Gotthardt won the first set. In the second he also held on for a long time, but missed with three arrows on double 8 to make it 2-0. As a result, Bunting didn’t give up a single leg and in the end he deservedly secured victory over his German opponent.
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Gotthardt was disappointed after the game. “I just didn’t give myself enough time, it’s my own fault for this situation, it could have been different,” said the darts professional to the TV station Sport1. “I know what mistakes I made, he took advantage of them like a top eight player.”
After Gabriel Clemens and Nico Springer, Gotthardt is the third German starter to have to withdraw from the World Cup. Still there are Ricardo Pietreczko, who won his first round match on Tuesday against China’s Xiaochen Zong 3-0, as well as Florian Hempel and Martin Schindler, who start the tournament on Friday evening and Sunday respectively.
Stephen Bunting 3:1 (1:3, 3:2, 3:0, 3:0) Kai Gotthardt
4th set, 3rd leg – Gotthardt no longer throws as hard as he did at the beginning. There are now often numbers around 60 points. That’s not enough against Bunting. Although Gotthardt is aiming for another 40 points, Bunting is simply a complete professional. With 68 points left, he first hits the 20, then the 8 and hits his last arrow into the double 20. This is the seventh leg won in a row for Bunting and thus the set and match victory.
4th set, 2nd leg – Bunting gets the break because Gotthard just can’t keep up. The Englishman checks out his 40 points over the 20 and the double 10 and is now on the verge of victory.
4th set, 1st leg – Will everything be decided in this leg? Bunting will probably be willing to end this quickly. Gotthardt has 84 remaining points, but Bunting manages to check out his 108 points. This is really top class from the 39-year-old. Gotthardt can’t really keep up anymore.
3rd set, 3rd leg – In this leg, the two opponents initially move in lockstep. Gotthardt has 74 remaining points, Bunting is not yet in the finish area. But Gotthardt fails to check out over double 20. Bunting is there and checks out his 54 points on the 14 and double 20. The 3-0 and with it the second set for him.
3rd set, 2nd leg – Will Gotthardt succeed in the rebreak? Bunting has now apparently found his form, lets his opponent beat him with precise throws, but misses the chance to check out via double 4. But Gotthardt fails to take advantage of the Englishman’s faux pas. Bunting takes advantage of his second chance and takes the second leg in the third set.
3rd set, 1st leg – Gotthardt has just missed three important darts on the doubles. This is really extremely annoying. But one thing is clear: he can keep up here. And now the German starts, but initially only scores 58 points. Bunting hits the board again with 180, and Gotthardt then only hits 57. Things aren’t going well for him at the start of the third leg. Bunting takes advantage of Gotthardt’s weak phase and checks out for a break over double 20.
2nd set, 5th leg – deciding leg. And Bunting stumbles dangerously, while Gotthardt plays very well and plays his way to 125 remaining points. He hits the bullseye twice, then the 9th. 16 points remain, but with Bunting he also scores 20. That means: three arrows for the double 8 for Gotthardt. But he forgives all three. That doesn’t exist. Bunting strikes and takes the second set via double 10. How bitter!