After the first New Year's Eve in London and the brilliant victory over darts leader Gerwyn Price, Gabriel Clemens could really use a little sleep.

"I can't even put it into words, I probably won't realize it until late at night.

I'm super happy and played a good game," said the 39-year-old from Saarland on Sunday evening after dominating the muscle man Price 5-1 and thus ending his time as the world number one.

Clemens himself will now face English world-class professional Michael Smith this Monday (8.30 p.m. / Sport1 and DAZN) in the World Cup semifinals.

Price had reached deep into the box for psychological tricks.

When the score was 1: 3, the former rugby professional suddenly came on stage with fat headphones and played with them - such a scene is extremely unusual even in the darts cabinet of curiosities.

"The Ally Pally is German"

“I would have thought he would take them off again.

He didn't do that.

My goal was just to win the set," said Clemens at DAZN.

At the 2021 World Cup, the "German Giant" became the first German round of 16 - at the 2023 World Cup he is the first quarter and semi-finalist.

And soon also finalists?

The game against "Bully Boy" Smith, who only lost the World Cup final against Scotsman Peter Wright last year, is scheduled for German prime time again and will be played before the second semi-final between Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands) and Dimitri van den Bergh (Belgium ) discharged.

“I'm just looking forward to going back to the Ally Pally tomorrow.

I'm assuming that he'll be besieged by the German fans again," said Clemens, who is once again an outsider.

"The Ally Pally is German, definitely."

In the biggest game of his career, Clemens had shown an outstanding performance against the big favorite.

Germany's number one played an average of 99.94 points, he scored almost twice as many throws at doubles and converted more than twice as many.

"I already trusted myself.

But I knew it would be difficult.

I had to play my top level," said Clemens.

Ironically, after a rather weak year 2022, the absolute crowning glory at the tournament in London, which is endowed with 2.5 million pounds (around 2.8 million euros), is now possible.

Price paid Clemens respect after his clear defeat on stage and later commented on Instagram rather cryptically about the future.

He does not know if he will ever return to Alexandra Palace.

It's different with Clemens: He'll be in a World Cup semi-final on Monday evening on the world's biggest darts stage.

Top favorite Michael van Gerwen clearly won his quarter-finals against Chris Dobey from England 5-0 late on Sunday evening and thus made it into the semi-finals.

There "Mighty Mike" has to deal with the Belgian Dimitri van den Bergh.

In the tournament so far, the three-time champion van Gerwen is the best player.

None of his four victories were in danger.

Opponent van den Bergh defeated Welshman Jonny Clayton 5:3 on Sunday afternoon.

A title would see van Gerwen return to the top of the world rankings.