Status: 1:37 a.m. | Reading time: 4 minutes
Peter Wright beat Steve West 3-1 with an average of 93.62
Quelle: dpa/Kieran Cleeves
He was already on the stage of the Darts World Cup as a Christmas elf and Santa Claus. As the defending champion, however, Peter Wright had come up with something very special to kick off. Snakebite came with a mask and scarf as the Grinch.
AThe last time Peter Wright threw an arrow on the Alexandra Palace stage, it had triggered great emotions. On January 1, 2020, the top got stuck in the double-10, which was the greatest success of his career. The Scot had become world champion for the first time at the age of 49. 3200 fans cheered him and celebrated the crowd favorite.
The return to the site of triumph eleven months later was equally spectacular. Peter Wright had already come on stage in Alexandra Palace as a Santa Claus or Christmas Elf. But this time he had come up with something very special.
If the title were defended, world champion Peter Wright would be the new number one in the darts world
Source: pa / empics / Steven Paston
The Scot played as the Grinch: with a green mohawk, a green beard, a green long-sleeved shirt and also green shafts and flights on his arrows. He also wore a green face mask and oversized fur gloves when he marched in.
A red and white scarf, which was also printed underneath his shirt, dangled over his shoulder. What a spectacular appearance.
Wright played as the Grinch: with a green mohawk, a green beard, a green long-sleeved shirt and also green shafts and flights on his arrows
Quelle: dpa/Kieran Cleeves
However, she didn’t really want to fit the atmosphere. Only 300 spectators welcomed the world champion on his first stage to defend his title, which would be tantamount to jumping to number one in the world rankings. After Wright had to survive a match dart against Noel Malicdem from the Philippines in his opening match the year before, he remained sovereign this time.
“Snakebite” won 3-1 against Steve West with an average of 93.62 and moved into the third round. Opponents could be a German after the Christmas break with Gabriel Clemens or Nico Kurz.
Then possibly without fans. The scenery on the first day of the World Cup, which was more reminiscent of an annual general meeting of the DC Double-In due to the hygiene measures with a ban on costume and singing, was unique in two ways. Four spectators sat next to each other at the tables, many of which had remained vacant.
As of Wednesday, the UK government’s corona rules for the Greater London area will ban spectators at sporting events. The organizing Professional Darts Corporation, which had originally planned with 1000 spectators per session and extensive hygiene measures, had to pack up their plans one day before the tournament started. The incidence values are too high. No fan will be allowed to enter the Ally Pally until at least Christmas.
Portela bursts into tears
In addition to Wright and West, who had won 3-0 against Amit Gilitwala from India in the first match of the evening and thus qualified for the duel with the world champion, Steve Beaton and Diogo Portela also had the possibly unique experience in front of spectators at this World Cup to play.
The Brazilian caused the first surprise of the tournament and took the disappointing old master out of the tournament with a smooth 3-0. It was his first World Cup victory in the fourth attempt, while Beaton was on the World Cup stage for the 30th time. The 56-year-old overtook legend Phil Taylor and is now the sole record player – but eliminated.
Tears after the victory: Diogo Portela cried for minutes
Quelle: picture alliance/dpa/PA Wire/Kieran Cleeves
After the victory, Portela, who had been taken into the field of participants as South America representative with a wildcard, got the emotions. The 32-year-old burst into tears right after his arrow to victory, cried for minutes.
In the last first round match of the evening, Canadian Jeff Smith prevailed 3-1 against Keane Berry from Ireland.
On Wednesday, Max Hopp, the first German starter, will intervene in the tournament. The 24-year-old meets the Australian outsider Gordon Mathers in his eighth World Cup participation in the evening. Lisa Ashton is the first of the two qualified women to enter the world championship race. The two sessions of the day will be broadcast live by the DAZN * streaming service.
Tuesday’s results
1 round
Steve West (ENG) – Amit Gilitwala (IND) 3: 0
Steve Beaton (ENG) – Diogo Portela (BRA) 0: 3
Jeff Smith (CAN) – Keane Berry (IRL) 3:1
2nd round
Peter Wright (SCO/2) – Steve West (ENG) 3:1
The games on Wednesday
from 1 p.m.
1 round
Ryan Joyce (ENG) – Karel Sedlacek (CZE)
Ross Smith (ENG) – David Evans (ENG)
William O’Connor (IRL) – Niels Zonneveld (NED)
2nd round:
Chris Dobey (ENG/22) – Jeff Smith (CAN)
from 19 clock
1 round
Max Hopp (GER) – Gordon Mathers (AUS)
Callan Rydz (ENG) – James Bailey (AUS)
Adam Hunt (ENG) – Lisa Ashton (ENG)
2nd round
Glen Durrant (ENG / 12) – Diogo Portela (BRA)
_________
*Display: Every viewer has the opportunity to follow the tournament live on the DAZN streaming service (11.99 euros per month). If you don’t have a subscription, you can watch the game for free. DAZN offers all new customers the opportunity to test the offer for one month free of charge. You can cancel the subscription within the first month.
.
