Unleashed Michael Smith
Gabriel Clemens’ darts fairy tale ends in the World Cup semifinals
By Kevin Schulte, London
01/02/2023 10:22 p.m
The biggest game in the history of darts Germany ends with a defeat for Gabriel Clemens. After a sensational tournament, the Saarlander is in the semi-finals of the World Cup against Michael Smith, who plays like he’s unleashed.
At exactly 10:00 p.m. German time, Michael Smith hits the bullseye, the middle of the dartboard, which hobby players play most often in the pub, but hit the most rarely. At this moment, the favored Englishman makes the preliminary decision in a duel with the German darts sensation Gabriel Clemens. Instead of the chance to equalize 3:3, Smith pulls away to 4:2 with the precise throw into the bullseye. Gabriel Clemens, who played very strong until the end of the game, can no longer recover from this.
Smith also wins the following set 3-2 on the last groove. In the decisive moments Smith is unbeatable that evening, sovereign and safe when throwing on the doubles. The 32-year-old deservedly made it to the final 6-2 and played like he was unleashed this Monday evening at London’s Alexandra Palace. After the Bullseye hit, it’s clear that Michael Smith isn’t going anywhere. He just plays too well. Also for the again strong Gabriel Clemens. The German darts sensation, who brutally screwed the world number one out of “Ally Pally” 5:1 the night before.
“Today I simply lost against the better player. I didn’t have many chances. I could have stolen a set with a high checkout, but otherwise Michael Smith hardly allowed anything,” was the conclusion of the “German Giant”, Gabriel Clemens . “Michael was brutally strong, just played better. I also told him that he now deserved to win the thing in the third World Cup final.”
Outstanding start to the game
Michael Smith had started brilliantly, but Clemens held back from the start. In set 1, both players could not be beaten with their own throw. In the decider, Smith used the present advantage to take a 1-0 lead with a 106 checkout.
At that moment, Clemens knew that the second sentence, which he was allowed to start, would already be immensely important for the further course of the game. And how Clemens dealt with it after Smith had taken the lead with 2-0 legs was shown by the whole class of the Saarlander at this darts world championship: He remained calm and, unlike Smith, used his chances when throwing on the double fields. The “Bully Boy” missed a total of four opportunities to win a set, Clemens snapped. 1:1 in sets. Everything open again. Clemens briefly made eye contact with his girlfriend and friends in the audience and went into the catacombs noticeably satisfied with his own game.
After two sentences, the two actors were already in a total of ten 180 shots. The 3,100 fans at “Ally Pally”, including around 750 Germans, reacted enthusiastically. Also because they not only got to hear a lot of “One Hundred and Eightys” for their money, but also the maximum portion of darts. Because the third set, in which the level of play decreased somewhat, was only decided in the decisive fifth leg. The decider could hardly be surpassed in terms of tension. Smith missed chances again, Clemens actually got the opportunity to take the lead for the first time with 116 points left, but missed double 20. Smith trembled to lead the set 2-1.
In the fourth set, the “Bully Boy” and the “German Giant” went back into magic mode. Smith brought 161 points to zero in an important moment, Clemens, for his part, convinced with high scoring and a sovereign decision leg to equalize 2: 2 in the sets.
So good that the fans are silent
The game was so good that it was comparatively quiet in “Ally Pally”. At times you could even have heard the famous pin drop, it was so quiet. The spectators were more interested in the game and less interested in beer and hot dogs. Gabriel Clemens and Michael Smith really deserved that. Even if the fifth set went to Smith 3-0 for the first time. “The spectators went along extremely well, there were Gabriel Clemens songs, Michael Smith songs, no boos, not from me, not from Michael. That’s how it should be, it’s fun.”
Clemens, on the other hand, did not succeed in bringing a round to the finish line in a relaxed manner. The 39-year-old had to put everything on the decider in the sixth set as well. In this “Gaga” lost feathers for the first time, hit too few triple fields and Smith used this for the decisive moment: The Englishman hit the tiny red button in the middle of the dartboard with his only chance. The bullseye to 4:2. The preliminary decision that brings Michael Smith to the final of the Darts World Cup for the third time and ends Gabriel Clemens’ German darts fairy tale.
Dream final against Michael van Gerwen
The second semi-final between Belgian Dimitri Van den Bergh and top favorite Michael van Gerwen was clearly in the Dutchman’s favour. “MvG” went into the final with a 6:0 in sets, and unlike in the game between Clemens and Smith, not even the individual sets were contested. Only in one leg did Van den Bergh even have a chance to get a set.
The entire tournament is a single show of power by Michael van Gerwen. In every game, the 2014, 2017 and 2019 world champion averages over 100 points per shot. Michael Smith didn’t succeed either. So “MvG” has the role of favorite in front of the family. But if anyone can beat him at this World Cup, it’s Michael Smith.