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The World Darts Championship has been played in London since December 15th.
28 sessions are on the program until the final on January 3rd.
The game day starts at 1 p.m. every day, the last match sometimes ends shortly before midnight.
For DAZN commentator Elmar Paulke, it is the most beautiful and stressful time of the year.
Especially when you're dancing at other weddings on the side.
On the day after the first German World Cup duel, the 50-year-old made his way from Munich to Cologne to comment on the RTL show "The King of Kids".
WORLD:
Mr. Paulke, with their second round match, Gabriel Clemens and Nico Kurz advertised darts on Monday evening.
It couldn't have gone better, right?
Elmar Paulke:
I think so too.
That was a really, really good game.
Gabriel Clemens started out a bit nervous, and without Nico Kurz's missed opportunities in the first set, it would have been difficult for Gaga.
But at the back he played it very well.
That was a really cool game.
Great sport: Gabriel Clemens (left) and Nico Kurz impressed at the Darts World Cup
Source: Getty Images
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WORLD:
In the short with his spectacular game for the highlights.
Last year he threw eight perfect darts, this time he got three high finishes in a row.
Is the 23-year-old amateur one for the big stage?
Paulke:
I think he has everything to try on the professional tour next year.
What I also find exciting about him: In his private life he is a very introverted guy who doesn't like to be in front of the camera to give interviews.
But he obviously feels right at home up there on this huge stage.
I hadn't commented on three high finishes in a row by then.
Nico can create great moments.
Not many can do that.
Especially since he has no experience at all.
Max Hopp, for example, has not yet managed to outgrow himself.
That he sometimes plays better than he usually can.
Unfortunately, you don't experience that.
And that's a shame because it has such great potential.
But Nico can do it.
And that is the prerequisite for being able to achieve great things.
He has huge potential, is a good guy and always seems to stay cool.
The German voice of darts.
So far Elmar Paulke has commented on every Darts World Cup broadcast on German television
Source: picture alliance
WORLD:
For Gabriel Clemens, the omens are now reversed in his first third round match.
How do you assess the starting position before the duel with world champion Peter Wright?
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Paulke:
I think he has a chance.
Gaga can fly now.
Let's see if that's enough to win against the defending champion, but he played so many times in 2020 and showed that he can also take out the big players and play an average of 110.
Even if Peter Wright puts a lot of pressure on, he'll be able to counter it.
He dares to do it.
He knows he can win the match.
"World Champion Peter Wright will be eliminated against a German"
Darts is booming, as evidenced by the number of hits on portals such as dartn.de.
Our guest and expert Marvin van den Boom sees good chances for Gabriel Clemens, Max Hopp and Nico Kurz at this World Cup and firmly believes in the first round of 16 participation by a German.
Source: WORLD
WORLD: In
this regard, is it an advantage or a disadvantage that there will be no fans at Alexandra Palace?
Clemens is an outsider, but Wright is the crowd favorite.
Paulke:
That's why it's also an advantage.
Peter is the one who draws the fans in.
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WORLD:
Does Clemens have the potential to become the first German top 20 player?
Paulke:
I don't know whether he'll be the first.
But he has the potential to do so one hundred percent.
I also think for the top 16, maybe even the top 10. Because he has had a very healthy development.
It all goes step by step.
He has not yet won a tournament, has not provided a highlight at a major tournament and is still in the top 32. Clemens makes it over the Constance and has put together a good package in his environment that suits him.
WORLD:
What would a victory mean for darts in Germany?
Paulke:
I believe in the Germany factor, which we didn't even have yet.
If a German beats the world champion, people will turn the wheel, and that will also be the case in the media.
It would be the next step in terms of the status and importance of sport in this country.
A current example from the German duel: When my co-commentator Tomas Seyler and I made a live video on Instagram during a break during the match, 6,000 people were there.
Otherwise there are fewer than a thousand.
This shows to some extent that it also grabs people who are not usually involved in darts: That is exactly the Germany factor that I mean.
The Boris Becker factor, the Michael Schumacher factor, the Henry mask factor.
It may not be that massive in darts, but it will be felt by everyone.
WORLD:
Can sport become number two in the German public after football?
Paulke:
If you see the TV ratings, darts has overtaken sports like basketball, handball or tennis in recent years.
We have never had that before that a sport gets so much attention without the Germany factor.
My role is also unusual there.
Because the broadcast was important and people want to watch it without a German superstar.
But everyone can play darts.
Anyone can buy a board and three arrows.
And that's a damn good prerequisite for it to really bang.
WELT:
During your time at Sport1 and now at DAZN, you always emphasized the idea of community.
The viewer is involved, you read out comments, answer questions, switch to Instagram live and call for an “attendance check”.
Where does it come from?
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Paulke: Back
then it was simply a new sport that initially had to be explained a lot.
The beginning of the community was an email campaign that we called for.
The audience should ask their questions.
We then received an incredible response.
WORLD:
How many wrote to you?
Paulke:
There were 20,000 in one evening.
And then it grew, became part of the transference.
The fan generally plays a completely different role in darts than in other sports.
He's part of the show, has his signs that he holds up, has his costume that is awarded.
It is part of the whole, and I think we live quite well with the broadcasts.
That's the darts vibe.
WORLD:
We have been talking to each other for 20 minutes now.
You would have advertised your book, your arrows, your podcast or your Instagram account on television at least once during that time.
Paulke:
I know what you're getting at.
And I understand the critics too.
But don't forget that this is the DAZN Darts Podcast, which of course we want to push.
There is certainly an agreement with the publisher for the book.
And we have to refer to the Instagram page if we want to gather the community there during the commercial break.
And when there are 6,000 people added, I have the impression that they think that's a good thing.
WORLD:
Where do you see yourself in five years and beyond?
Can you imagine commenting on darts well into retirement?
Paulke:
I can of course imagine that.
But as a self-employed person, I can't rely on just one horse, I'm dependent on broadcasting rights.
So I'm trying to position myself more broadly, I'm also involved in entertainment on Pro7 and RTL.
I try to organize my own darts events, give seminars where I try to transfer the skills of the darts professionals into everyday life.
But darts is my baby, I know my way around very well, I have a lot of fun with the topic and yes, I have just written my third book.
WORLD:
With "Perfect Game" you provide the audience with introductory reading to the sport, describe the history of darts, but also portray the formative figures of the present.
They leave nothing out to get people involved in the sport.
Where exactly do you see your role?
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Paulke:
I already had the idea of a darts academy.
Ultimately, it failed because of the sponsors needed to implement it in the way I wanted it to be.
I would be interested in that.
But I would only do it if it was big too.
And about the book: I can't write a book just for the nerds.
I also have to take by the hand those who are dealing with darts for the first time.
It's always about this balancing act.
Here darts professional Martin Schindler imitates his colleagues
Martin Schindler is not only one of the best German darts professionals.
He is also an excellent impersonator.
Here he recreates six world-class players.
Do you recognize these players?
Source: WORLD
WORLD:
Are you a fan yourself?
Does the Paulke house have a darts room with played World Cup boards, signed jerseys and flights from Jocky Wilson or other legends?
Paulke:
At home there are of course two boards on the wall.
My two sons also like to play.
But I don't have any autographs or shirts.
I'm passionate about darts and I analyze the sport.
But I'm not a classic fan.
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