As of: 12/22/2021 3:06 p.m.
Christmas in London: This scenario is now becoming a reality for darts player Florian Hempel. The Cologne man amazes at the World Cup and has a huge chance after the coup against Belgium’s star van den Bergh.
Florian Hempel has never experienced a Christmas party like this.
After his famous World Cup coup against Belgium’s star player Dimitri van den Bergh, Germany’s new darts hope will spend the holidays in the player’s hotel in London – and then start the attack on a very big surprise at the most important tournament in the world. “I will prepare for my next game. I have no big plans, but it will be a great Christmas,” announced the 31-year-old from Cologne.
Darts World Cup
Image: Adam Davy / PA Wire / dpa
The former handball player has secured 25,000 pounds (around 29,500 euros) through the third round entry. Even more important: after defeating van den Bergh as number five in the world, his way seems open – even to a possible quarter-finals, which no German has yet reached at the World Cup. Expert René Eidams arranged on the TV microphone: “Christmas is every year.” That probably doesn’t apply to such great darts chances at the World Cup.
Soul hurts
For Hempel, having to spend the festival of love on the island due to strict quarantine rules is not easy. “Yes, it hurts my soul. But it’s my job, and I knew what I was getting myself into,” said the German, whose surprising victory over co-favorite van den Bergh was also internationally recognized, at “Sport1” .
The soul hurts, but the athlete’s heart should be enthusiastic about this story. On December 27, it is now up to the Australian outsider Raymond Smith, against whom Hempel can be expected to win another victory. Smith had clearly won against Devon Petersen from South Africa on Tuesday evening.
Hopp: “Respect Flo! Mega gambled”
“We’re at a world championship, there are no more byes. The boys can also play darts. In the end, as always, the form of the day will decide,” said Hempel at “DAZN”. In his first real year as a darts professional, the former handball goalkeeper ensures climax after climax. At the EM he defeated ex-world champion Peter Wright from Scotland, now also a world-class player at the World Cup. “Respect Flo! Mega gambled”, wrote compatriot Max Hopp, who has now fallen behind Hempel in the world rankings.
Impressive nerve strength
The coolness with which World Cup debutant Hempel acted on the huge stage in Alexandra Palace was particularly impressive. The German outsider converted nine of his twelve throws on doubles. Judging by the fact that Hempel started darts as a hobby four years ago on an eight-euro disc in a shared apartment, it is a furious rise. His current emotional world? “Nobody believes me,” said Hempel and laughed.
The coup also brought back memories of the previous year, when Gabriel Clemens reached the round of 16 with a victory over Wright and thus wrote German darts history. Hempel now hopes that his buddy Clemens will also make it into the third round on Thursday evening (9 p.m.) so that they can spend Christmas together in London and prepare for the next step after the holidays.
Serenade from Brings?
They will not be able to avoid quarantine at home afterwards, Great Britain has been declared a virus variant area. For Hempel this is now a minor matter, he is living his dream of the World Cup. If he actually creates a huge sensation in London and becomes world champion, a surprise awaits him back home: Peter Brings, singer of the Kölschrock band Brings, has announced that in this case he will come to Hempel and sing his opening song “Kölsche Jung” in person.
Source: sportschau.de