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No costumes, no alcohol, no fans.
For the first time in its 28-year history, the Darts World Championship threatened to be held in front of empty ranks in December.
But now the PDC surprises with a statement.
"There could be a return of the fans at the Darts World Championship from December 15th to January 3rd at Alexandra Palace in London."
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The reason for the move was the announcement by the British government on Monday that sporting events such as the football Premier League could be visited again from December 2nd.
"The PDC will now find out together with the Alexandra Palace what chances an event has in front of fans", it continues.
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In addition to the number, it is primarily about the way.
Topics such as distance and hygiene, which hardly fit together with the pictures of the past few years.
The narrow space in the West Hall of the event complex is part of the concept.
In a beer-like atmosphere, costumed spectators create a unique atmosphere every year.
Return to the World Cup?
The organizer wants to ensure the comeback of viewers in London's Alexandra Palace
Source: dpa / Steven Paston
At the tournaments this year, the players had already got used to having to play on the big stage, but in front of empty stands.
At the World Cup, of all places, the audience should now make a comeback.
Clemens, Hopp and Kurz qualified
Germany will be represented by at least three players at the 28th edition.
In addition to Gabriel Clemens, who wants to defend his current world number 32 at the Players Championship Finals next weekend and would then be qualified as a seeded player for the second round for the first time, Max Hopp and Nico Kurz are among the best.
At the World Cup of Darts they reached the semi-finals as a team.
Gabriel Clemens (left) and Max Hopp are now starting the individual World Cup
Source: PDC Europe / Kais Bodensieck
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Hopp was able to improve after a weak first half of the season and secured his place on the Pro Tour ranking list.
The 24-year-old Hesse is already challenged in the first round and would face one of the seeded players if he won.
The same applies to Kurz, who made a much-noticed debut with his third round entry last year and was only a millimeter short of the nine-darter.
The 23-year-old from Nidderau in Hesse qualified as the winner of the Super League, in which the best German players played a starting place.
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The German trio may be expanded to include one or two participants.
As every year, all members of the players' union have the last chance to participate in the PDPA qualifier.
Since some qualified people from Asia, Australia or America may not be able to participate due to the pandemic, the number of starting places to be allocated should be significantly higher than usual.
Still fighting for his tour card for the next two years: Martin Schindler from Strausberg
Source: dpa / Daniel Bockwoldt
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A good opportunity for the three so far not qualified German players, Martin Schindler, Christian Bunse and Steffen Siepmann, to be among the 96 World Cup drivers after all.
The field of participants, in which Lisa Ashton and Deta Hedman take the two quota places for women, is more balanced than ever.
In addition to defending champion Peter Wright, world number one Michael van Gerwen and perhaps the most stable top player this season, Gerwyn Price, numerous other players have set themselves the goal of victory.
The Belgian Dimitri van den Bergh, the English Nathan Aspinall, James Wade and Michael Smith, but also the Portuguese Jose De Sousa, Krzystof Ratajski from Poland and the South African Devon Petersen recently presented themselves in outstanding form.
Even Simon Whitlock, who scored 20 shots with 180 points in his quarter-final win against van Gerwen in the Grand Slam of Darts, should calculate a lot.
The new width at the top also resulted from the changed framework without fans.
Inexperienced players find it easier to move to the big stage than usual. That could be different again at the World Cup.
"The announcement on Monday means that we can intensify our discussions with the responsible authorities in order to be able to play in front of a real audience for the first time in Great Britain since March," said PDC boss Barry Hearn in a first statement: "It would be a big boost for so many people for whom the event is a highlight of the year. "
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The first two rounds will be played from December 15 to 23. After Christmas, the third round will continue on December 27th. There is no play on New Year's Eve, the quarter-finals are played on New Year's Eve, the semi-finals on the following day. The final is scheduled for January 3rd. More information on ticket sales should follow in the coming days.