Darts fever is rising in Germany. For the first time, Gabriel Clemens will have a German representative when the World Cup gets hot after the turn of the year. But the favorites are different.
Gabriel Clemens triggered great enthusiasm for darts in Germany. As the first World Cup quarter-finalist, the 39-year-old from Saarland now has the chance to play in London Alexandra Palace to clear away.
After victories over the underdogs Alan Soutar (Scotland), Jim Williams (Wales) and William O’Connor (Ireland) is facing the most important game of his career so far on New Year’s: the quarterfinals against the Welsh champions GerwynPrice. In two session the four semi-finalists will be determined.
Is it enough for the German sensation?
Clemens, whose 4:1 over soutar even ended up in the 8 p.m. Tagesschau in the round of 16 on Friday, gained confidence as the tournament progressed. As the “German Giants” on his underdog role against the former world champion Price was spoken to, he said with a smile: “Why isn’t it a 50-50 game? Does he start with a lead? I don’t think so.”
In fact, reaching the quarter-finals is a great success for the best German, because important games have often been lost to outsiders in the past. Clemens himself says he could be dangerous to anyone. On coup versus Price (from 8.30 p.m.) would almost be a sensation given the starting position. The Welshman has much more experience on the big darts stages, while Clemens is making his debut on one major-Quarterfinals.
Primus under pressure
But also Price is not infallible. The lead in the world rankings is still favored by the 2021 world title, which falls out of the two-year list on January 4. “The Iceman“, as the muscle man is called, has to win the world title in order to Ranking to stay in first place. The victories against Raymond van Barneveld from the Netherlands (4:0) and the Portuguese Jose de Sousa (4:1) were sovereign, but other players have shone more in the course of the game. “Only the win is decisive. I always say that I only find my best game from the quarter-finals onwards”announced Price on. That will now have to be proven.
Scoring machines favoured
If you look at the previous tournament games in the Alexandra Palace on, hardly a way leads to the Dutchman Michael van Gerwen. Already in the previous year “mighty mike” as the clear favorite until a positive corona test slowed him down. His three world titles in 2014, 2017 and 2019 are almost too little compared to his endless potential. Van Gerwen left both the strong Austrian Mensur Suljovic (4:2) and compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode (4:1) hardly a chance. Against England Chris Dobey he is clearly favored on New Year’s Day (10 p.m.).
This also applies to last year’s finalists MichaelSmithwho in the English duel against Stephen Bunting must start (3.15 p.m.). “bully boy” Smith had his scare moment in the third round when Germany’s Martin Schindler had him on the brink of defeat. Smith won 4-3 after trailing 1-3. Bunting enters the top eight as an underdog, his victories over the favourites Dave Chisnall and Luke Humphries on two consecutive days were impressive.
And otherwise?
The rest of the quarter-finals (1.30 p.m.) will be contested by Belgian Dimitri van den Bergh and Johnny Clayton out Wales. Both have not yet been named as one of the closest favorites, although they play well in London. “dreammaker“van den Bergh hasn’t had any problems in the tournament so far, veteran Clayton took the Northern Ireland high-flyer Josh Rock from the tournament. The winner faces a semi-final against van Gerwen.