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“The German Giant” wrote the history of German darts. Gabriel Clemens won 4: 3 against defending champion Peter Wright in the third round of the World Cup at Alexandra Palace, London.
Clemens was allowed to start the game, and entered immediately. He started by taking 94 points to zero with three arrows. Wright was unimpressed by this, however, he secured the break on Clemens’ next attack and won the first set 3-1.
In the second round, Clemens got the break early. Wright had a chance to re-break, but he threw too many arrows along the double fields to finish a stage. The second set went to “The German Giant”.
While the 37-year-old from Saarland was fully in the game after leveling the set, the defending champion completely lost his accuracy on the double fields. Clemens secured the third round 3-0, Wright’s double odd at this point was just under 20 percent.
Clemens also led 2-0 in the next round and had two darts in doubles to win the set. The German did not take advantage of the opportunity and, suddenly, Wright returned to do doubles. After a 0: 2 deficit in the fourth set, the world number two hit the required double three times in three attempts and thus ensured the equality of the set.
In the fifth set, Wright quickly took a 2-0 lead. It seemed that the favorite was now in control of the game. But this time it was Clemens who turned the 0: 2 into 3: 2 and was just one set away from winning the match.
Wright confidently won the sixth round, but was still at a disadvantage in the deciding set because Clemens was allowed to start. It got dramatic. When the score was 1: 1, both darts were awarded for doubles before Clemens took his throw-off at 2: 1. Wright got his charge, moving on to the decision stage. There Clemens secured victory.
“I’m still in shock,” Clemens said in an interview after the game. “Tomorrow I have to see who I’m playing against.”
In the second round, Germany’s number one will face the Polish Krzysztof Ratajski.
Other results:
Krzysztof Ratajski – Simon Whitlock 4: 0
Kim Huybrechts – Ryan Searle 2: 4
Dimitri van den Bergh – Jermaine Wattimena 4: 0
Joe Cullen – Jonny Clayton 4: 3
