World Cup exit for Schindler and Clemens
English darts professional cheers and draws comparison to World War II
December 27, 2023, 4:47 p.m
Many German darts fans traveled to London to watch the Darts World Cup in “Ally Pally”. You see the second round exit for the Germans Martin Schindler and Gabriel Clemens. After his progress, Schindler’s opponent is reminiscent of the two world wars.
The German darts professionals Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler missed the World Cup round of 16. While Clemens had to admit defeat to the Englishman Dave Chisnall with a score of 1:4, Schindler experienced a thriller without a happy ending: Despite a 2-0 set lead, the Strausberger lost to the Englishman Scott Williams after a roller coaster ride of emotions in London’s Alexandra Palace 3: 4.
“A few times I had one or two darts at the doubles and I didn’t use them. That’s why I lost,” said Schindler after the game in the famous “Ally Pally” on Sport1. “But in the end it doesn’t matter who was the better player. I lost and that’s what counts.” Even though he set a German World Cup record with 13 perfect 180 throws and ultimately threw a better average than his opponent, in the end it wasn’t enough to advance.
Martin Schindler lacked consistency.
(Photo: IMAGO/Action Plus)
Against Williams, Schindler initially continued his convincing second-round performance against the Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena (3:1), but then lost the thread with five lost legs in a row. It was only after the third break that Schindler played well again, but had to admit defeat in a match with constant changes of direction.
Before he won the first set after a break, the numerous German fans – including BVB professional Nico Schlotterbeck – celebrated the 27-year-old with chants of “Martin Schindler Ole”. Williams also praised the audience, but also surprised them with an interesting comparison. “The game was incredible for the neutral fan. I’ve never seen a crowd like that,” praises the Englishman. And then continued: “I know that we won two world wars and a world championship, but there were so many Germans here. I could only hear them.”
Clemens gets off to a catastrophic start
Despite the cheers after winning the second set, Schindler was no longer able to score, but Williams played two high finishes and had the momentum on his side. The last of three short interruptions after the fourth set seemed to suit Schindler: Schindler briefly played as if transformed and checked a 161 via the bull’s eye to win the set. Williams tried to win over the audience with loud gestures of celebration and almost always found an answer. The decision was made in the sentence extension. Schindler was also unable to achieve the desired level in the decisive sentence.
In contrast to Schindler, Clemens, last year’s World Cup semi-finalist, made a false start and didn’t get into the game at all. The Saarlander’s double quota was now less than ten percent – a catastrophic value. His experienced opponent was able to start the match from the beginning. The first game between two seeded players became a clear affair – even if Clemens, who was the first German darts professional to make it to a World Cup round of 16 in 2021, briefly felt hopeful by winning the fourth round.
Clemens therefore found a simple reason for his clear defeat, “because I played shit – especially the first three sets,” said the 40-year-old and added: “You could see that I tried. It’s incredibly difficult, to make it 0-3. I didn’t succeed either.”
After the festive period before Christmas, Germany is now threatened with great disillusionment, two chances remain on Thursday. Florian Hempel and World Cup debutant Ricardo Pietreczko are fighting to advance – and the tasks are tough. Hempel, who lives in Cologne, will meet the highly rated Stephen Bunting in the afternoon (1:40 p.m.), and in the evening (around 9:15 p.m.) “Pikachu” will face top favorite Luke Humphries.