21:43
Gaga can’t keep up in the first leg
In Smith’s throw leg, Clemens doesn’t hit enough triples. So the bully boy has six darts left for 82 points remaining. He confidently checks via bullseye and the second dart to double 16.
21:39
A great achievement
So far, Gabriel Clemens has been playing outstanding darts. He shows no nerves at all. The Bully Boy is playing close to his A-game, but Gaga is keeping up. He coldly exploits the mistakes of the favorite. The 2: 2 after four sets is performance-based. Michael Smith seems slightly annoyed.
21:37
Gaga equalizes!
The bully boy does not hit the triple in the deicder. Clemens is down to 132 after nine darts. He can’t clear the high finish, but that doesn’t matter because Smith has over 300 points to clear. Clemens has 40 points remaining and gets the set with the third arrow on double 10. That’s the 2:2 equalization in sets!
21:35
The next decider
We also go into the decider in the fourth set of this game. Clemens can’t keep up when throwing Smith. He’s not in the finish area as the Englishman is down to 60 points. So there’s six darts for that. The first three arrows miss their target. Clemens hits another 180 on the board, but then Smith is there and checks over double 10.
21:34
Clemens gets the throw through
In this throw leg by Clemens, the bully boy would need the 155 high finish for the break. He doesn’t succeed. Gaga has 40 points left. Tops isn’t perfect yet, but the second dart lands in double 10.
21:33
An incredibly important high finish
This time, Gaga plays Smith’s throw-off leg from the front. The German has 62 points left while the Bully Boy has 161 points left. But the world number four shows perfect timing. At this moment he checks the 161 via triple-20, triple-17 and bullseye to make it 1-1 in the fourth set.
21:30
Smith with more errors
Smith attacks the throw directly. He throws a 140 to transition and has 81 points left. The first dart lands in the triple-19. But two darts on double 12 are not enough for him. Clemens gets the chance to have 91 points remaining. The first dart is in the triple 17 and the second in the double 20. That’s 1-0 in the fourth set.
21:28
Both award set darts
Smith plays a 180 in this decider. And Clemens responds perfectly by also hitting a maximum on the board. But then Gaga fails the transition. He stands at 116 points while Smit waits at 64. But the bully boy again misses a dart on the double. Clemens hits the triple 19 and the big 19. So he also gets a set dart on the double 20, but he also misses. Smith is there and checks the sets to make it 2-1.
21:26
Smith awards set darts
Clemens is at 52 rest on his own throw, while Smith is not yet in the finish area. He then misses double 16 twice. This gives Smit the chance to win the set. But the bully boy also misses two darts on doubles. Gaga comes back and checks the first dart on double eight.
21:24
There is the high finish
This time Clemens attacks the throw because he throws a 140 for the transition. He has 142 left but can only face one finish. 80 points remain. The face-off boy again has 144 points remaining. He hits the triple 20 twice again and this time also hits the double 12. That’s just strong.
21:22
Almost the break for Smith
Clemens comes into his throwing leg with a 180. But then a 40 and 48 followed. Smith actually had a chance to attack the throw, but the Englishman didn’t score well either. His only chance would be the 144 high finish. He actually hits triple 20 twice, but then misses double 12. Clemens checks with 40 points remaining and checks with the second arrow on double 10.
21:20
The next 180 from the bully boy
Smith throws the next 180 with the fourth shot of the third set. But things aren’t going well on double 15 just yet. He hits the big 15 and has to rebuild. That’s not too bad because Clemens can’t delete 139 points. The bully boy gets three darts for the double 2 and sinks with the last try to make it 1-0 in the third set.
21:16
Smith still extremely good
Gaga takes the second set, although Smith still averaged 110 points. However, the Englishman’s double quota was not perfect. Clemens, on the other hand, has increased to 50 percent in double throws. That’s a very good stat to keep if he wants to have a chance against this Michael Smith. It is 1:1 in the sentences!
21:15
Clemens gets his first sentence!
In the decider, Clemens cannot set himself apart decisively. In the end he needs the 143 to save the throw and the set. He hits triple 19 and triple 18 but then misses double 16. Smith has 64 points remaining. He throws 16, 8 and gets a dart on double. But the English missed too. Clemens is there and bags the second set with the first fresh arrow on double 16!
21:12
Gaga gets the break!
Clemens breaks the point as Smith fails to take a shot without a treble. But the German also misses the triple. In response, the faceoff boy hits a 180 on the board, leaving 30 points. He gets three darts on double 15, but misses. This is the chance for the German Giant. With 70 points remaining, he checks perfectly via triple 18 and double 8. It goes back into the decider!
21:09
Clemens is still good in the game
Smith also plays a human leg and Gaga continues to score very well. He gets six darts for 132 rest. In the end, there’s only one shot at double 16. But the arrow sits. It’s 1-2 in the second set.
21:08
Smith is on fire
Smith smacks the 180 into the board like it’s nothing. The faceoff boy plays the second 11-darter in a row. This time he’s down nine darts to 41 points and checks over 1, double 20. It’s just world class what Michael Smith is playing here. If things continue like this, Gabriel Clemens is just a spectator tonight.
21:06
Smith rolls over Gaga in the first leg
Clemens comes into his throw-off sentence without a triple. Gaga’s first six darts miss the small red square. So Smith attacks the throw directly. He’s down to 50 after nine darts and playing an 11-darter over 10, double-10. Hats off!
21:03
The numbers speak volumes
In the first set, Gabriel Clemens played an average of 102 points. Michael Smith was even better with an average of 111 points. At 33.3 percent for Clemens and 37.5 percent for Smith, their double quotas can still be improved, but are perfectly fine. It was an intoxicating first movement. More please!
21:01
Both show nerves in the decider
The bully boy threw six darts in a row wide of the doubles in the decisive leg of the first set, but Clemens didn’t really hit anymore either. This gives Smith the chance to score 106 points. He checks triple 20, 6 and double 20 very confidently. That was an incredibly strong first set from both of them.
20:59
Six perfect ones again
This time Clemens throws the six perfect darts. He faces 50 points after nine darts and this time the first dart is on a double. He checks over 18 and double 16. It goes into the decider!
20:58
Six perfect darts
Smith throws six perfect darts on his own throw. Of course Clemens can’t keep up. After nine darts there are 36 points left. In the end it is a 12-darter for the bully boy to make it 2-1 in the first set.
20:57
Compensation with a little run-up
With his own throw, Clemens plays the leg confidently from the front. He hasn’t had a single shot without a triple before. At the end, Smith puts pressure on again with a 140 transition. Gaga gets two attempts at double 16 but misses the field. Luckily for him, Smith also misses two arrows on doubles. So three fresh darts for the double eight and the third one sits.
20:54
Strong start from both
Smith starts the game with a 140 and Clemens imitates him directly. But then the bully boy also hits a 180 on the board, which Gaga can’t quite keep up with with a 137. With his own throw, Smith is allowed to try the doubles first. He faces 40 points off. Clemens also throws another 180 for 4 points off, but Smith checks the first leg with the second dart on double 10.
20:49
It’s starting soon
John McDonald has spoken. He brings Gabriel Clemens and Michael Smith onto the stage. Mixed feelings can be heard from the audience during Clemens’ walk-on, but the Wonderwall chorus is then sung at the top of their lungs. Some whistles can also be heard from Smith. It’s starting soon!
20:25
Germany in darts fever
Gabriel Clemens’ outstanding performance is a great asset for darts in Germany. The Ally Pally is already occupied by many German spectators this year. Gerwyn Price heard that painfully yesterday. Because of the volume, he played with headphones at times. And this tournament will only increase enthusiasm for darts in Germany.
20:21
Schindler has shown how it’s done
The most exciting game for Smith so far was in the 3rd round against Martin Schindler. The German led 3-1 in sets. So he was just one set away from victory. But then the face-off boy showed that he not only scores well, but also has strong nerves. When things got serious, the Englishman turned up the heat. Nevertheless, Schindler showed how Smith can be defeated and Gabriel Clemens certainly exchanged ideas with his German colleague before today’s semi-final.
20:18
Two top favorites remain
The darts world has been dominated by four players in recent years: van Gerwen, Wright, Price and Smith. Of these four players only two are still in the tournament and with Michael Smith one of them meets Gabriel Clemens today. The face-off boy has rarely shown his full class at this tournament. He only played a 103 average in the round of 16 against Joe Cullen. Otherwise, his B-Game was enough for him to reach the semifinals.
20:15
Clemens with great tournament
Reaching the semifinals is the greatest success of his career for Gabriel Clemens. He is the first German who has ever made it this far at a World Cup. Yesterday he beat the world number one, Gerwyn Price, surprisingly confidently and clearly 5:1 in sets. The Welshman never found his A-game, but Clemens still played a strong game with an average of 100 and a 35 percent double quota.
20:11
The first German in the semifinals
Hello and welcome to the first semi-final of the 2023 World Darts Championship. Today at around 8:45 p.m. Michael Smith will be challenged by Gabriel Clemens.