Opening victory at the Darts Team World Championship
Germany falters, then Clemens pulls out the big punch
By Kevin Schulte, Frankfurt am Main
28.06.2024, 07:42
Germany takes the first step towards the round of 16 at the World Darts Team Championship. At the home tournament in Frankfurt, Martin Schindler and Gabriel Clemens win dramatically against New Zealand. Tonight, outsider Finland awaits.
Martin Schindler and Gabriel Clemens had expected the first match of the World Team Championship to be difficult. New Zealand gave the two best German darts players the tough dance they expected. At 2:3, Germany had its back to the wall, but then the duo turned things up. Clemens confidently checked the double to equalize, then all hell broke loose in the deciding leg. After a weak start from both teams, Clemens suddenly threw a 180 and put New Zealand under pressure. They coped well with it, however, countering the “German Giant’s” maximum as well as the following 140 from Martin Schindler.
Clemens came back to the board with 124 points remaining, the New Zealanders around Haupai Puha and Ben Robb had long since played down to 42 points and were ready for the match darts. However, they had not reckoned with Clemens, who brought the 124 points down to zero with a precise throw into the bullseye. The rest was pure relief. Doubles partner Schindler in particular let it all out after the razor-thin 4:3 victory, “The Wall” was untamable, bouncing around the stage in the Frankfurt ice rink like a rubber ball.
“You have to have balls. I’m just happy that we won,” said a relieved Clemens to ntv.de after the game. “There are often situations like this where you absolutely have to clear a score. I haven’t been able to do that very often recently, but it’s good that it worked today. I hope that happens more often in the future.”
Football atmosphere in the hall
The big darts party in Frankfurt on Thursday was still missing in front of around 1,500 spectators. However, the atmosphere was much better than at the start of the tournament last year. Although the European Championships saw a break in play for the first time after 13 days, football also played a role. The English fans happily sang “It’s coming home”. “Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst)” could also be heard loudly again and again. Many fans wore national team jerseys. Unlike club jerseys, these are allowed to be worn by spectators at darts.
The German duo liked the football atmosphere, especially Clemens, who often goes to the stadium himself and cheers on his 1. FC Saarbrücken team. “I like this atmosphere, it’s not a problem for me.” At that moment, Schindler interrupted his teammate: “As long as pyrotechnics are being used, everything is fine.” Currently, hardly a darts session goes by in Germany without the audience chanting “Pyrotechnics are not a crime.”
The professionals, however, were particularly troubled by the high temperatures in the hall and especially on the stage. “The heat was a bigger struggle than anything else. It was unbelievably hot here in the hall,” said Irishman William O’Connor, who was still sweating profusely after his performance. Clemens and Schindler were not much better. “But you have to accept the situation as it is. Complaining doesn’t help,” Schindler made clear.
Defending champion decimated
The top nations England, Wales, the Netherlands and Scotland will only enter the team world championship on Saturday with a total of 40 duos. Then the round of 16 begins, which Germany now also has the best chance of reaching. Provided there are no nasty surprises against Finland this Friday evening.
Schindler and Clemens were already in the semi-finals last year and are aiming for the big win this year. After the necessary opening win, their chances are not bad. England’s 17-year-old superstar Luke Littler has not yet qualified this year, but the motherland of darts is still the favorite, with the last two darts world champions Luke Humphries and Michael Smith. Defending champion Wales, on the other hand, will have to play without “Iceman” Gerwyn Price, who canceled at short notice for health reasons. The Netherlands, with the out-of-form top player Michael van Gerwen, are also a big question mark. It is not impossible that Germany will reach the final of the team world championship for the first time this weekend.