“There was more for us”
Darts legends burst German World Cup dreams
06/18/2023, 9:09 p.m
The German duo Schindler and Clemens got off to a strong start in their semi-finals at the World Darts Team Championships. Scotland, with the two former world champions Anderson and Wright, is struggling, but then the two legends find their game. Nevertheless, the previously strong German team could have done better.
Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Darts Team World Championship. The duo lost 5:8 against the two Scots Peter Wright and Gary Anderson in Frankfurt am Main in the evening and thus missed out on reaching the final for a German team for the first time. Clemens/Schindler defeated the top English duo Michael Smith/Rob Cross in the afternoon and caused a big surprise. In the final, which took place immediately afterwards, Anderson and Wright had absolutely no chance: The Scots lost 2:10 against the favored duo Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in a one-sided final.
“I’m fed up with today,” said a visibly annoyed Clemens. Both pros had been sweating heavily on stage in high temperatures, and not only outdoors. Schindler also seemed devastated after another missed opportunity. “Of course we’re not happy because we could have done better. We both missed chances,” said the 26-year-old.
It was the second time a German team had reached the semi-finals of the prestigious major. In 2020 Max Hopp and Clemens made it to the semi-finals, then it was over against Wales. After the successes against Hong Kong (4:0), Japan (4:0) and Poland (8:6) were expected in the past few days, the victory over England came unexpectedly. Smith is the current singles world champion. Cross, Anderson and Wright have already won the coveted World Cup trophy at London’s Alexandra Palace.
The German duo got off to a strong start and even had a chance to take a 3-0 lead in legs, but the world champions quickly got back into the game and took the lead themselves with a sprint. When the German duo had the chance to equalize with a break to make it 6:6 in legs, Clemens, who had been so confident beforehand when checking out on the double fields, missed three attempts at the double 3. Anderson then did not miss the chance to make a preliminary decision.
The first semi-final between Wales and Belgium developed into a gripping duel that was only decided in the deciding leg. In the 15th and last part of the game, Clayton converted the important shot to an 8:7 victory. “Sometimes an arrow decides. They pushed us to the limit,” said Price, who jumped wildly on stage and cheered the finale.