Gabriel Clemens and debutant Florian Hempel missed the last 16 at the Darts World Cup in London. While Hempel lost 4-1 to Australian Raymond Smith six days after his sensational victory against world number five Dimitri van den Bergh (Belgium), Clemens lost 4-0 to Welsh Jonny Clayton. This means that no German is represented at the Alexandra Palace any more.
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Clemens was only able to win four legs against Clayton, who, as number eight in the world, belongs to the extended circle of title contenders in London. The 38-year-old celebrated a historic victory over Peter Wright last year and was the first German to make it into the World Cup round of 16.
From the beginning Clemens couldn’t keep up and was only really within striking distance in the third set. In the decisive leg, however, the German missed the connection at the crucial point: 140, 125 and 100 after nine darts put Clayton in a good position. Again there are 40 left, he could check them again – the preliminary decision.
The class difference became clear in the fourth and last set at the latest, when Clayton finished a high finish with Bulls-Eye and finally sent Clemens 4-0 on vacation.
“I didn’t play so well, but I didn’t get that many chances either,” said Clemens at DAZN: “I couldn’t really do much in the game.” He counts his opponent among the title favorites “with the scoring in any case”.
Florian Hempel is leaving
Before that, Florian Hempel, as the second German ever after Gabriel Clemens last year, missed out on the last 16 at a World Cup. “I failed because of myself. The chances were there. I know what I can play,” said Hempel after his defeat in an interview with Sport1: “What I showed today is not even remotely what I want to show.”
Hempel started well and won the first leg. But then the former handball goalkeeper looked nervous and lost five legs in a row. Only with the break to 1: 2 in the second set was the German a little better in the game. Nevertheless, the decision leg went to the “guru”, who led with 2-0 sets.
Hempel, who had sensationally prevailed against the five seeded Belgian Dimitri van den Bergh in the second round, fought his way back. Although he was already behind with a break, the Cologne-based man secured the third round.
However, Hempel missed too many attempts on the double fields in the fourth sentence. Smith, whose initially high level decreased in this phase, stayed cooler in the crucial moments and made it 3: 1 – the preliminary decision! The German didn’t manage to play freely in the fifth sentence either. The “Guru” grabbed the break in the fifth leg to win 4-1.
Hempel was ultimately left behind with the average (87.66 points to 94.79 points per shot) and the double rate (34.6 percent to 38.9 percent).
Price wins dramatic match
Defending champion and top favorite Gerwyn Price meanwhile only avoided the early exit with a lot of effort. The world number one from Wales won his third round match against the Belgian Kim Huybrechts 4: 3 and barely missed a defeat. In the round of 16, Price faces Dirk van Duijvenbode from the Netherlands.
Right from the start, Price pressed the gas and took the first set 3-0. But Huybrechts fought his way back into the game with consistently strong scoring and in the meantime even turned the game to 1: 2.
As a result, a true darts show developed. Price struggled with fans while pushing himself with unique high finishes. Huybrechts on the other side did not play consistently, but certainly on doubles.
Finally, the game went into the final with a score of 3: 3 in sets and 2: 2 legs – only a gap of two leg wins should mean the game win. Price marched in front, Huybrechts also brought through his throwing legs.
The world champion repeatedly left break opportunities that were not used at the crucial moment. Even the numerous of the seventeen 180 throws did not bring Huybrechts over the finish line. In the decisive eleventh leg of the fifth set, Price finally decided the match on his favorite finish: double-20.
You can read the course of the game again in our live ticker.
Michael Smith and Dirk van Duijvenbode continue
Michael Smith had previously qualified for the round of 16. The “Bully Boy” from England beat the Irishman William O’Connor 4-2. In the first match of the day, Dirk van Duijvenbode made a monstrous comeback. The Dutchman prevailed after a 3-0 set deficit with 4: 3 against the Englishman Ross Smith.
The game between Vincent van der Voort (Netherlands) and James Wade (England), which was also scheduled for the evening, had to be canceled because van der Voort tested positive for the corona virus. Wade, number four on the seeding list, made it to the round of 16 without a fight.
The five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld (Netherlands) had previously tested positive after his second round defeat against Rob Cross (England).
Darts World Cup: Today’s World Cup day
The lunch session from 1.30 p.m .:
| round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result |
| 3rd round | Ross Smith | D. van Duijvenbode | 3: 4 |
| 3rd round | Michael Smith | William O’Connor | 4: 2 |
| 3rd round | Florian Hempel | Raymond Smith | 1: 4 |
The evening session from 8 p.m.:
| round | Player 1 | Player 2 | Result |
| 3rd round | Gerwyn Price | Kim Huybrechts | 4: 3 |
| 3rd round | Jonny Clayton | Gabriel Clemens | 4-0 |