Belgium stress, Germany victory
The Team World Cup in darts begins with a scandal
By Kevin Schulte, Frankfurt
06/16/2023, 06:25 am
On the first day of the tournament at the Team World Championships in Frankfurt, the Belgian team “partners” didn’t look at each other. After the scandal about the co-favourites, the German duo shows that you can also win harmoniously.
The term “ice age” was redefined this Thursday evening in the ice rink in Frankfurt am Main. Thanks to Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts. World No. 10 and No. 30 in darts compete together for Belgium at the World Team Championship. Whereby “together” is out of the question. Although the Belgians won their opening game against outsiders Finland 4-0, Van den Bergh and Huybrechts didn’t bother to look at each other during the 15-minute game or backstage. Both actors appeared individually at the press conference and described their view of things.
“I tried to talk to Dimitri before the tournament, but it wasn’t a good conversation. It’s something I’ll keep private. We’ll see how long it stays private,” said Huybrechts on stage after the scandal . “It’s the first time for me that I’ve played a doubles tournament with someone I don’t get along with. The World Cup is a team sport, but the situation is like this now. Dimitri is here to win the tournament. Me I’m here to win,” said Huybrechts on ntv demand.
“I’m here to do my job, for Belgium. Just like the other years, I don’t see any change,” said Van den Bergh. When asked what specifically happened between the two teammates, the 28-year-old only said: “Nothing I have to talk about. No comment.”
“Have the level to beat all top nations”
The German duo proved in the evening that things can be harmonious within a team. Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler also easily defeated Hong Kong 4:0 and were happy about the strong start afterwards. “Playing in front of your own audience is generally an advantage. Then one or the other dart goes more into the triple field,” said Clemens happily in the media round after the top start. “That was step one, now comes step two and then we’ll see. We don’t want to promise too much, but we have the level of play to beat all the top nations. We believe in ourselves,” added Schindler late Thursday evening.
On the second day of the tournament, Germany will play Japan in the second group game in the evening session (around 10:30 p.m./live on DAZN). Should Japan also win against Hong Kong earlier in the afternoon, Clemens and Schindler will have to win the game to qualify for the round of 16.
When asked about the tensions in the Belgian team, Clemens said: “I think it’s basically good if you understand each other and push each other. If you don’t hit anything, it’s important that the team partner is there and has a good word. ” It is clear that should Germany and Belgium play against each other in the course of the tournament, there would be the greatest possible opposites in terms of team chemistry.
No more Rammstein for Schindler
However, a non-sporting topic also occupies the German team, at least Martin Schindler. The number 25 in the darts world rankings has relied on the song “Ich will” by Rammstein as an anthem for the past two years. But that’s over now. “You are no longer just a dart player, but also a person in public life. That’s why you should stay out of such topics. The walk-on song will definitely be changed, I want to distance myself from it, stay out of it, that’s it,” said Schindler on ntv demand.
Which song will Schindler instead enter the darts stages of this world in the future? “The Flippers”, Clemens said with a wink in the room. However, Schindler didn’t pick up the ball: “I’ve got my eye on Linkin Park, that’s my favorite band.”