»Survive the first game« (daily newspaper Junge Welt)

Nothing should bother you this time. After two world championships that were severely affected by the corona pandemic, the rather party-happy darts world is preparing for a return to normality. Normality, that means from Thursday (8 p.m./Sport 1 and Dazn) at the Alexandra Palace in London is quite mad: Teletubby meets Queen Mom, Superman drinks with Grinch, and up to 3,000 fans celebrate with plenty of alcohol, singing and testosterone-laden bawling. The pandemic-related restrictions in the past two years hardly fit an event that is often at least as much show and staging as sport.

The stars of the scene are happy that normality will finally have returned in 2022. for example world champion Peter Wright, who symbolizes the spectacle at the disc with his colorful look. “We are all super grateful to be able to play darts and travel the world again. When I won the European Championships two years ago, there were 150 people there. They were stunning, but there were only 150,’ said the Scotsman dpa before the World Cup, which lasts until January 3rd.

The Welshman Gerwyn Price won the 2021 World Cup in front of a ghost backdrop because the British government had imposed tough corona measures. A year later, a lot was relaxed for the public, but player after player was caught with positive tests. Top favorite Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands) and Englishman Dave Chisnall lost their chance for the title because the hygiene concept was insufficient. The world association PDC entrenched itself and hardly communicated during the crisis. “It left everyone speechless what happened there,” says the German player Max Hopp, describing the conditions from the previous year.

This time it should be about the sport again, which Germany’s best Gabriel Clemens in the Süddeutsche Zeitung referred to as a “permanent penalty shoot-out”. “It’s back and forth, one against one, that’s what makes it so appealing,” said Clemens. In Germany, too, the TV ratings are likely to rise sharply between the years, when after the World Cup and before the return of the Bundesliga there is hardly any winter sports and darts in the British capital become one of the few live sports attractions.

Clemens and Co. have so far failed to achieve great successes at the World Cup. Although the “German Giant”, as Clemens is called, beat Wright two years ago, the most important tournament in the world has never reached the quarterfinals. And so there is no real hope this time that a real sporting coup will succeed at the start of 2023.

Clemens, seeded 25th, has had a weak year. Martin Schindler has not yet won at the World Cup, the former handball player Florian Hempel could meet co-favorite Luke Humphries in round two. »Progress is recognizable, the development continues. It remains to be seen to what extent that will be enough for the very top and the best in the world,” said Hempel. Others in the scene are more explicit. Top player van Gerwen demands in no uncertain terms: “You have to improve.”

The women who compete in direct duels with men at the World Cup should once again be in the focus of the general public. Three years ago, Fallon Sherrock secured two wins and made history. This time it should also be about the only 18-year-old Beau Greaves, who excels on the women’s tour and could now meet the German Primus Clemens in round two. “I fear no one, because just being there is a bonus,” Greaves said.

Further individual victories for Greaves, Sherrock and Lisa Ashton seem possible, but the big title contenders are different. Defending champion Wright, Primus Price and the long-time dominator van Gerwen are named above all when it comes to the 25-kilogram Sid Waddell Trophy. “I want to defend the trophy and my points because I want to keep first place,” Price told the broadcaster in advance Sport 1.

In order to have a happy holiday, the favorites in London must first clear a first hurdle. For Wright it starts this Thursday, the other contenders start in the coming week. “The most important thing is to get through the first game. That’s the hardest part, but once you get through it, you can enjoy Christmas,” Price added.