First time in the World Cup quarterfinals
Gabriel Clemens writes German darts history
By Kevin Schulte, London
12/30/2022, 3:58 p.m
For the first time in the 30-year history of the professional darts world championship, a German is in the quarter-finals: Gabriel Clemens defeats Scotland’s Alan Soutar 4-1. World number one Gerwyn Price awaits in the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day.
About 20 minutes after the game, Gabriel Clemens, the man who made German darts history, arrives in the media room at Alexandra Palace, exhausted. “What did Luka Doncic say recently? I need a rest beer now? That’s how I have to do it now.”
The Dallas Mavericks basketball superstar treated himself to a cold drink after his 60-point gala and was photographed doing it. Clemens is not a mega-star like the Slovenian, but since December 30th he has played a major role in making darts even more popular in Germany.
Gabriel Clemens achieves the greatest success of his career at the Darts World Championship in London. With the 4:1 victory over Alan Soutar, the “German Giant” is now definitely in the history books. Clemens is the first German to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after being the first German to reach the round of 16 two years ago.
Demonstration of power in the first sentence
In the early stages of the game against the semi-professional from Scotland, there were already indications that things would go a step further on this cold, wet December day in London. Soutar, a full-time firefighter, was literally destroyed by Clemens in the first sentence. The first sentence in front of just over 3000 spectators in “Ally Pally”, 500 of them from Germany, is a demonstration of power by the “German Giant”. The first shot is a 180, in the second leg a high finish succeeds and a few minutes later Clemens bagged the first round in fast forward.
Set two also started well from the point of view of the world number 25, but Soutar suddenly signed up out of nowhere with a 104 checkout. Although the Scot plays little better than at the beginning of the game, Clemens misses too many chances and adapts to the playing level of “Soots”.
After the second set break, however, things are going better for the 39-year-old German, with Clemens 3-0 legs and taking the 2-1 set lead. But once again Soutar won’t be shaken off that easily. It is not for nothing that the number 36 in the world won against top player Danny Noppert in the previous round. Set four is contested, the Saarlander trembles against a strengthened Soutar in the decision leg on the last groove to the trend-setting 3:1 lead.
In set four, the game turned into a little darts drama. Three missed match darts gave Soutar the chance to close. The fireman couldn’t use it. Clemens scored the fourth match dart to win 4:1. Lucky double 20. “I knew that I had good chances if I played my game. This time I made it 3-1, that’s nicer than going into the break 2-2,” said Clemens, looking at the crucial points after the game moments back.
New Year’s Eve in London for the first time
For Clemens, the historical success means that he will spend New Year’s Eve in London for the first time. On New Year’s Day, “Gaga” will face world number one Gerwyn Price. “I just won a game and I’m in the quarter-finals now,” Clemens said dryly as usual after the game. “I’m usually happy when I get to play at Ally Pally again after Christmas. Now I can play again in the new year, you could get used to it.”
The trained locksmith expressly emphasized that other German World Cup participants also played a large part in his success. Other players also paved the way, according to Clemens. “We have a lot of good darts players, that’s not just my share. Everyone who was here at Ally Pally did a lot for Darts Germany.”
The signs are then different than in the round of 16: Clemens is different against Price than against Soutar and can therefore only surprise positively. “Price is of course the favourite, there’s no need to talk about it. I think I feel very comfortable in the role. I want to make life as difficult for him as possible. Of course I have the utmost respect. But I don’t think that I have to hide.”
Price, who had progressed to the quarter-finals the night before after three lackluster victories, said after beating José de Sousa 4-1 that he would be at his best in the quarter-finals. “Then I’ll also unpack my best game,” said Clemens on ntv.de.