Darts EM: Next chance for the big coup of a German

Stand: 13:07| Reading time: 4 minutes

EA former rugby bully becomes world champion, the former tiler dominates the ranking, and all of a sudden an “eggplant king” takes center stage: many fairytale chapters have happened in the top of the darts scene in recent years.

They were about the muscleman Gerwyn Price, who stormed from the rugby field to the World Cup. About Michael van Gerwen and his famous rise as well as Dirk van Duijvenbode, who celebrated his professional activity on an aubergine farm so much that it became an absolute marketing coup.

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The darts sport, which is not lacking in sensations, has so far left out one chapter: the really big hit of a German, which turns the enthusiasm, which usually only grows at the World Cup in December, into a little hype. An awakening experience for the sport that is often consumed during the Christmas season as an entertaining distraction and party event.

At the EM in Salzburg, where the top 32 of the European Tour ranking list can compete from Thursday evening (from 8 p.m. / DAZN and Sport1), there is once again the chance of such a coup and the natural candidate for it is no longer Max Hopp , but Gabriel Clemens.

The 38-year-old Saarlander does not worry too much about missed opportunities, but is satisfied with the development of his sport. “I think we already have a lot of public awareness. Darts is becoming more and more popular in Germany ”, said the“ German Giant ”of the German press agency before the open championships in Salzburg, which take place in front of 3500 spectators per session and for Clemens start with a duel with Australia’s Damon Heta. He admits that the great German triumph is still missing. “But he can still come – from me or another German.”

Hempel celebrates his EM debut

In 2018, Hopp moved into the EM semifinals and failed there in a dramatic way. Since then, more and more Clemens has trumpeted and – past Hopp – played among the best 25 in the world. Its development is constant, but so far it has not made any big leaps. “My goal was to establish myself in the top 32. I succeeded, ”said Clemens, whose highlight last year was a World Cup victory over then defending champion Peter Wright. But you didn’t hear big sayings afterwards either.

Behind Clemens, who will be Germany’s greatest hope at the World Cup in London in December after the European Championship, something has definitely shifted. Long-time hope Hopp did not qualify for the EM. He’s had a difficult year and has to fear a World Cup end. “Max is currently down a little, but I’m sure that he will come back again,” said Clemens of his partner at the Team World Cup when they made it to the quarter-finals.

Instead, Florian Hempel will celebrate his debut in the European Championship as well as in the Major on Thursday (10.30 p.m.) and play directly against the bird of paradise Wright, who is after all the defending champion. “Wright is a huge favorite on paper, of course. Nobody expects a victory from me, ”said Hempel to the specialist portal“ Checkout – The Darts Podcast ”. However, the 31-year-old has certain long-term ambitions, as he emphasized before the biggest match of his career to date. “I don’t want to be the underdog forever. I want to work my way up the world rankings and be the favorite in a game more often. “

The 1st round in the overview

Simon Whitlock – William Borland

Brendan Dolan – Kim Huybrechts

Rob Cross – Keane Barry

Luke Humphries – Callan Rydz

José de Sousa – Lewis Williams

Peter Wright – Florian Hempel

Mensur Suljovic – Adam Hunt

Joe Cullen – Ted Evetts

Adam Gawlas – Joe Murnan

Krzysztof Ratajski – Danny Noppert

James Wade – Adam Smith-Neale

Nathan Aspinall – Mervyn King

Michael Smith – Ryan Searle

Michael van Gerwen – Boris Krcmar

Gerwyn Price – Ritchie Edhouse

Damon Heta – Gabriel Clemens