Former handball player Florian Hempel is continuing to work on his sensational debut, national primus Gabriel Clemens would like to repeat the much-noticed success from the previous year: At the start of the hot phase at the Darts World Cup, Germany's professionals are in the spotlight in the Alexandra Palace in London.
After the three-day Christmas break with arrows, Hempel and Clemens can score several best marks in their third round duels this Monday (start at 1.30 p.m. at Sport1 and DAZN).
The 31-year-old Hempel could be the first German to win three games in a World Cup in his duel with the Australian outsider Raymond Smith (4 p.m.). Clemens, who started the German round of 16 premiere last year after a bye, would like to be among the last 16. With a win over Welsh co-favorite Jonny Clayton (10.30 p.m.) he could achieve the best German result in the most important darts so far Tournament of the world - if Hempel also makes it to the round of 16 beforehand.
Because of the strict quarantine rules, the two buddies and training partners spent Christmas in the British capital.
Instead of Christmas goose and gifts, the focus quickly returned to the World Cup in north London.
"It is not what you naturally want when your son is at home and celebrates Christmas with the whole family and you can only connect yourself to face time," said Hempel of the German press agency with a touch of melancholy.
"I have to play a little better"
But the job - and in this case the high point of the year - comes first. The former handball goalkeeper Hempel was successful as a lateral entrant within a few years and put himself in a great position at the World Cup. With the splendid victory over Belgium's world-class man Dimitri van den Bergh, the Cologne man now has every chance of even reaching the quarter-finals.
“I'm happy to be able to go on stage again this year,” said Hempel, who celebrated his break-in with the song “Kölsche Jung” by the band Brings. Singer Peter Brings has already said that he will sing the song to Hempel himself if Hempel sensationally wins the World Cup final on January 3rd. “Of course I would be happy if Peter came by. But maybe we can still negotiate and say that it doesn't necessarily have to be the title, ”said Hempel of the ARD“ Sportschau ”.
For Clemens, the German number one, the really big darts business has become a bit of a routine. Last year the “German Giant” defeated Scotland's defending champion Peter Wright and then only narrowly missed the quarter-finals. In contrast to Hempel, Clemens is dealing with a real world-class player. Clayton has won four major tournaments this year, more than any other darts professional. The 38-year-old Saarlander had clearly won the first game against Lewy Williams from Wales 3-0 after his bye, but still has to improve after a poor performance.
"I think I have to play a little better than today," said Clemens, who could make it into the top 20 in the world for the first time after the World Cup.
The role he already plays in the darts world is shown by the schedule: on Monday evening (9:15 p.m.) world champion Gerwyn Price will play before Clayton will compete against Clemens at the end of the first day of the third round.