Daniel Klose defeats almost everyone
German semi-pro creates crazy darts sensation
By Kevin Schulte
09/06/2023 1:44 p.m
Played 20 tournaments and always got out in the first or second round. That was the balance of the German dart player Daniel Klose before the Pro Tour event in Barnsley, England. Then the 43-year-old semi-professional suddenly defeated two world champions, entered the final and amazed the world of darts.
Gabriel Clemens, Michael Smith, Peter Wright – Daniel Klose defeated three of the best and most famous dart professionals in the world on the best day of his sporting career. On Tuesday, the 43-year-old from Middle Franconia surprisingly made it to the final of the 21st Players Championship tournament of the year. Only against ex-world champion Gerwyn Price was the final stop, Klose only narrowly lost 6:8 against the “Iceman” from Wales.
This time without earmuffs, but victorious: Gerwyn Price
(Photo: IMAGO/Action Plus)
It was the last game of a totally crazy day of darts. Not just from Daniel Klose’s point of view. The English commentators were completely taken aback by the German’s outstanding tournament. Sentences like “that comes out of nowhere” or “where does that come from” were very popular that day in Barnsley, England. And quite rightly so, because Klose is one of the illustrious circle of 128 tour ticket holders – that’s the right to play in the tournaments of the professional darts organization PDC – but he hasn’t exactly uprooted trees in the first three quarters of a year since qualifying.
Klose took part in 20 comparable events as part of the so-called Pro Tour this year. There was no run like this time. The native of Ansbach was eliminated twelve times in the first round, eight times it was enough for round two. It never went better. Until now.
Fourth German in the final
While the event wasn’t one of the major tournaments that are televised, the Pro Tour events are important. Only the 128 PDC players with a tour card are allowed to take part, including world champions like Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld and Gary Anderson. Six players from Germany are currently eligible for PDC events: World Cup semi-finalist Gabriel Clemens and the second top German player Martin Schindler. Also Ricardo Pietreczko, Florian Hempel, Pascal Rupprecht and Daniel Klose.
In the first game on Tuesday afternoon, Klose – prior to the tournament in 126th place in the world rankings – easily won 6-1 against the weak South African Devon Petersen. After the victory against the South African, there was a German duel with Gabriel Clemens. Here Klose set the first mark of the day, letting the “German Giant” bounce off 4:6. “Dan The Man” then went into the round of 32 against Michael Smith as an even clearer underdog. And surprised again. A brilliant decision leg brought him the biggest win of his career at the time (6:5).
Klose’s run wasn’t over yet. The 43-year-old easily prevailed against UK Open semifinalist Adam Gawlas from the Czech Republic (6:3), Klose also won against Masters champion Chris Dobey (6:4) and was suddenly in the semifinals. Here several major champions with a total of three world championship titles tussled with his next opponent Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price as well as Daryl Gurney.
And Daniel Klose was right in the middle of it, not only winning his game against the 2020 and 2022 world champion, but dominating it. The encounter was balanced up to 3:3, after which Klose grabbed four legs in a row and, after winning 7:3, advanced to the final against Gerwyn Price. Here, too, the Franconian was able to keep the game open for a long time, losing just 6:8 in the end.
Klose is only the fourth German dart player to reach a PDC Pro Tour final. Gabriel Clemens is the record holder with seven finals (no win yet), Max Hopp is in three finals (two wins), Martin Schindler, like Klose, has one final (no win).
Chance of World Cup participation
By participating in the final, Klose also brought in 8,000 pounds in prize money for the account and the world rankings, which are calculated according to the prize money earned. Here Klose jumps from 126th to 101st place, his total prize money is now 16,500 pounds. This means that Klose brought in almost as much prize money in one day as in the first eight months since winning the tour ticket.
With the sensational run, Klose also brings himself within reach of a first World Cup qualification. Not many players can do that in their first year on the professional tour. Klose has the chance to do so, thanks to his participation in the final he is only 500 pounds and one place behind the last World Cup ticket. Klose still has at least ten tournaments to catch up for the highlight in London’s “Ally Pally”. He would be the fifth German at the Darts World Cup 2023/24.
After Barnsley’s miracle in the final, no darts commentator would be surprised.