Clemens and Schindler only save themselves from embarrassment with the eleventh match dart
Gabriel Clemens kept his nerve in the crucial ninth leg of the Darts World Cup
Source: dpa/Hannes P. Albert
Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler made it through to the round of 16 at the World Team Championships with great difficulty. The German duo has to tremble against outsiders Spain until the deciding leg. There Clemens shows nerves of steel.
Martin Schindler jumped across the stage as if he had just won the tournament. He sank to his knees in front of his teammate Gabriel Clemens, after which they performed a little dance together for the 1700 fans in the Frankfurt ice rink. “I let out all the pressure and tension in good German,” Schindler explained his outburst of emotion.
The German duo had only with great difficulty averted embarrassment in their opening game of the Team World Championship. A 5-4 win against outsiders Spain was enough to prevent Germany’s earliest World Cup exit since 2016. At that time, Max Hopp and Jyhan Artut failed in the first round because of Australia.
In the unusual doubles mode, which is only played at the only team event of the year on the professional tour, Schindler and Clemens found the game difficult. It was only thanks to the exuberant break chances of Jose Justicia, who is ranked 100th in the world rankings, and Tony Martinez (128th), that Germany did not find themselves chasing a deficit early on. They threw six darts against the throw-off in the third leg of the evening alone past doubles.
Clemens with the initial spark
When the score was 2:2, Clemens, as world number 23, took care of it. on paper the German number one, for the initial spark. He checked 146 points for the first German high finish of the evening. His teammate did the same and took 108 points away to make it 4:2. Anyone who thought the game was decided was wrong.
Martin Schindler is currently the German player in the best form. He needs to improve
Source: dpa/Daniel Bockwoldt
The German duo determined the game from then on, but did not make it across the finish line early. First Schindler, who couldn’t show much of his good form in the last few weeks, failed on double 16, then Clemens, then Schindler again – seven match darts were gone. Spain took advantage of the mistakes, reduced the lead to 4:3 and then even equalized.
In the deciding leg, Clemens was under maximum pressure. Spain were waiting with 24 points remaining. Another mistake by the 38-year-old would have meant the end. But with the last arrow in his hand, he redeemed the German team. Clemens placed the dart in the middle of the double 6. It was the eleventh match dart. “I knew it had to be the last dart. Gaga did it, everything just had to come out,” commented the relieved Schindler.
The next outsider is waiting in the round of 16
“You know: It wouldn’t be bad if I made it out, because otherwise the probability of winning is relatively low,” said Clemens, who reached the team World Cup semi-finals with Max Hopp 2020 and thus ensured the best German performance to date. If it is to be enough for the top teams like Wales (Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton) or England (Michael Smith and James Wade), the host duo must improve quickly – and significantly.
Denmark are now waiting in the round of 16 after beating Singapore 5-2 with 68-year-old captain Paul Lim. Wladimir Andersen and Andreas Toft Jörgensen, another underdog duo, watched the first German appearance from the stands with excitement. Now they have to play against the German audience. “It will be a great and very special experience. The Germans are among the favourites, especially with this crowd here,” said Andersen. Everyone must “beware of this duo”.
Vladimir Andersen (l.) prevailed with Denmark against old champion Paul Lim
Source: dpa/Hannes P. Albert
The fans in Frankfurt caused a strange incident. Some of the supporters would have liked to celebrate in the European Cup winner’s clothes of the local Eintracht – but the world association PDC didn’t allow that. Eintracht emblems on trousers or jerseys had to be pasted over, and football club fan shirts were not permitted on the first day of the event. The PDC informed the supporters about the special regulations in advance when buying the ticket.
The procedure is considered standard at darts events, but was particularly noticeable due to the large number of Frankfurt fans. Only national soccer jerseys are allowed in the audience. The reason for this is that the organizers want to avoid conflicts between enemy fan groups. At darts events, the audience traditionally drinks a lot of alcohol and the atmosphere is considered exuberant.
The 1st round at a glance
Denmark 5-2 Singapore
New Zealand – Switzerland 5:3
Ireland – Canada 5: 2
Austria – Finland 5:3
Northern Ireland (6) – Gibraltar 5: 3
Wales (2) – Philippines 5: 2
Germany (7) – Spain 5:4
Netherlands (3) – Brazil 5-0
Latvia – Hungary
Poland – USA
Sweden – South Africa
Portugal – Italy
Australia (5) – Lithuania
England (1) – Czech Republic
Scotland (8) – Hong Kong
Belgium (4) – Japan
