Gabriel Clemens missed the sensational final at the Darts World Cup 2023 in London.
Gabriel Clemens’ darts fairy tale is over. After the sensational victory over world number one Gerwyn Price, Englishman Michael Smith was one size too big for the “German Giant” in the World Cup semifinals.
Clemens acted at eye level against the two-time vice world champion in the first five sets, but in the end the result of 2:6 was clear.
“In the beginning I kept taking my chances, although he played much better than me,” said Clemens on “Sport1”: “He bombarded me with 180s and 140s. The better player just won today.”
The 39-year-old Clemens, who has never won a PDC tournament, nevertheless wrote darts history in the Alexandra Palace: Before this World Cup, no German had even survived the round of 16 at the season’s highlight.
Darts World Cup 2023: Almost 100,000 euros for Gabriel Clemens
The gentle giant from Saarwellingen has improved from 25th place to 19th place in the world rankings published on Wednesday and, in addition to memories for life, above all the 5-1 demonstration against former world champion Price on New Year’s Day, also takes 85,000 pounds in prize money (around 96,000 euros ) to Saarland – and an increased level of awareness at home, where darts is booming, not least thanks to him.
“It doesn’t really matter who the opponent is. It’s exhausting. But I don’t mind standing here again and again,” Clemens said after his coup against Price at Sport1.
In preparation for the semifinals, he “limited himself to the bare minimum,” added Clemens shortly before the duel with “Bully Boy” Smith: “I’ve always felt comfortable playing the outsider role, of course I want to win, I’m a professional.”
Many German fans at the Darts World Cup
The hall was boiling, the fans roared along when Clemens walked in to the sounds of the Oasis classic “Wonderwall”. As in the past few days, many Germans made a pilgrimage to the Mecca of arrow throwers.
The first set offered darts of the absolute top class, both players sniffed the first nine-darter of the tournament. The level remained high, but Smith played a higher average as the match progressed and hit the doubles more reliably in the crucial moments.
Smith’s opponent in the final on Tuesday (9:00 p.m. CET/Sport1 and DAZN) is three-time champion Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands), who defeated Belgian Dimitri van den Bergh 6-0 in the second semi-final.
Smith knocked out Martin Schindler from Strauss in the third round. He had no chance against van Gerwen in the 2019 final with 3:7.
The winner of the Darts World Cup will receive £500,000 (around €546,000) and the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy.