Guyana, Gibraltar, New Zealand: darts is also expanding. For the first time, 40 nations will compete in the Team World Championship. Germany is still waiting for the breakthrough at the tournament.
Several reports in the daily news, as a guest in the current sports studio, entry into the World Cup semi-finals in London: Gabriel Clemens has achieved a lot in the past twelve months, which he would never have expected in his still short career as a darts professional.
If things go well in the coming days, another milestone could be reached on Sunday: world champion in a team, alongside buddy Martin Schindler. “It’s great when you’re friends with your own team partner. Maybe we’ll win our first title together,” said 39-year-old Clemens.
The Team World Cup in Frankfurt am Main, which has been increased to 40 teams, will be an XXL event, based entirely on the FIFA and UEFA models. “I think the changes are very good. That makes the tournament a lot more interesting. Gabriel Clemens and I are a good double. We get along very well. I hope we can get far with it,” Schindler told the German Press Agency . The significant changes: top teams initially have byes, the first group phase without England and Co. replaces a knockout round. In addition, there are only doubles games, the singles are omitted.
Hong Kong and Japan German opponents
The disadvantage for the fans: You will not see the top stars around world champion Michael Smith (England) and Dutchman Michael van Gerwen on Thursday (from 7 p.m. / DAZN) and Friday in the ice rink. Instead, Guyana, Gibraltar and New Zealand play twice – as well as Hong Kong and Japan, who challenge host Germany in a group of three. “For both of us it is of great importance. There was always a mega atmosphere in the ice rink. It means a lot to us to represent Germany,” said Schindler.
In order to make darts even more prominent in this country, successes are needed. This was proven not least by Clemens reaching the semi-finals in the Alexandra Palace around the turn of the year. The so-called World Cup went to the semi-finals in 2020, but never further. Wales (Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton) and England (Smith and Rob Cross) are again the favorites this time, but the Germans are higher in the rankings than ever before.
Schindler confident
Clemens is in 20th place in the world rankings thanks to the World Cup prize money, Schindler is in 25th place. “We play at a world-class level, we are among the best players in the world. We can definitely keep up in terms of play. But we don’t yet have the experience in the big games like the other nations. We also don’t have the financial security like the others,” said Schindler. Not much should go wrong in the preliminary round, from the knockout round it should also depend on the further draw. Defending champions Australia last year were an example of how fast this event can go with a surprise winner.
Saarlander Clemens has become a kind of brand ambassador for the sport since January. After the World Cup coup, he was extremely present in the media. “I think darts can get even bigger in Germany. We’re not finished yet,” said the “German Giant”, who hopes for further continuous development. Clemens has already announced a few points of reference: “England has many darts players on the tour. The Netherlands and Belgium are big darts nations. We have to take the next step.”