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Gabriel Clemens is sensational in the semi-finals of the Darts World Cup.
Cedric HeebEditor Sports
“You’ll be completely gaga,” shouts “Sport1” commentator Basti Schwele into the microphone. Gabriel “Gaga” Clemens sensationally throws Gerwyn Price (37), the world number 1, 5: 1 out of the World Cup.
It’s the best game the German has put on at the tournament so far, while Price looks stunned. The 2021 world champion wins the first set, but doesn’t stand a chance afterwards. The “German Giant” mercilessly punishes every mistake made by the Welshman and quickly pulls away to 3:1.
Clemens: “It’s great”
For the 5th movement, Price unpacks noise protection headphones, but they don’t help him either. His performance is too weak, his game too flawed. With his first match dart, Clemens sealed the end of the title favorite and secured his place in the semi-finals.
The 39-year-old trained industrial mechanic is writing the next chapter of his World Cup fairy tale in “Ally Pally”. “It’s awesome. What can I say, I can’t really put it into words yet, »says Clemens afterwards in an interview with «Sport1»: “I’m absolutely happy.”
While Clemens is rightly happy about his victory, the eliminated Price is miserable. Was it his last World Cup? At least he writes on Instagram: “Not sure if I’ll ever play at this event again.”
Belgian makes for historic moment
The first two semi-finalists were already chosen in the afternoon. First the Belgian Dimitri van den Bergh prevailed 5:3 in a gripping duel against Jonny Clayton.
The 28-year-old from Antwerp writes darts history in his home country. There has never been a Belgian in the last four of the World Cup. “It makes me incredibly proud,” he said after the game in the “Sky” interview. “I’m the ‘Dreammaker’ (his darts nickname, editor’s note) and I have a dream.” On Monday evening he meets the winner of the game between Michael van Gerwen and Chris Dobey in the second semi-final.
This is how the Darts World Cup works
The Darts World Championship at Alexandra Palace in London is the only major tournament of the year that is played in set mode. To win a set, a player must win three legs, each of which must go from 501 points to zero.
The first two rounds are played “Best of 5”, which means that a player must win three sets to advance. Four winning sets are required in round 3 and in the round of sixteen. After that, five sets are played in the quarter-finals and six in the semi-finals, before the final is about being the first to win seven sets.
The winner will receive prize money of 500,000 pounds (around 560,000 francs). The finalist gets the equivalent of around 223,000 francs, for the semi-finalists there is almost 112,000 francs. It’s the best tournament of the year.
The Darts World Championship at Alexandra Palace in London is the only major tournament of the year that is played in set mode. To win a set, a player must win three legs, each of which must go from 501 points to zero.
The first two rounds are played “Best of 5”, which means that a player must win three sets to advance. Four winning sets are required in round 3 and in the round of sixteen. After that, five sets are played in the quarter-finals and six in the semi-finals, before the final is about being the first to win seven sets.
The winner will receive prize money of 500,000 pounds (around 560,000 francs). The finalist gets the equivalent of around 223,000 francs, for the semi-finalists there is almost 112,000 francs. It’s the best tournament of the year.
Michael Smith is also in the semifinals. The fourth in the world rankings lived up to his role as favorite in a duel with Stephen Bunting and also won the English duel 5:3. Smith built up a comfortable 4-1 lead, but then showed some nerve and had to concede two sets to his opponent. But he didn’t let himself be denied the entry into the next round.
For the “Bully Boy” it is the third participation in the semifinals. In 2019 and 2022, the 32-year-old even made it to the final, but lost both finals. In the first game on Monday, he now plays against surprise man Clemens for another place in the final.