Darts European Championship in Salzburg: Clemens German hope – sport
Salzburg (dpa) -A former Ruby-Rpel becomes world champion, the former tiler reserved the ranking and suddenly an eggplant king comes into focus.
Many fairy-tale chapters have happened in the world’s top darts scene in recent years. It is about the muscleman Gerwyn Price, who flocked to the World Cup from the rugby field, about Michael vanGerwen and his famous rise, and about Dirk vanDuijvenbode, who works on an eggplant farm celebrated so much that it became an absolute marketing coup.
Clemens Berholt Hopp
The darts sport, which is not poor in sensations, has left out one chapter: the really big litter of a German who turns the enthusiasm, which usually only grows at the World Cup in December, into a little hype . At the EM in Salzburg there will be another chance for such a coup from Thursday evening (from 8 p.m. / DAZN and Sport1) and the natural candidate is no longer Max Hopp, but Gabriel Clemens.
The 38-year-old Saarlander does not grumble too much about missed opportunities, but is satisfied with the development of his sport. I think we already have a lot of public awareness. Darts is becoming more and more popular in Germany, the GermanGiant told the German press agency before the open championships in Salzburg, which for him begin with a duel with Australia’s DamonHeta. Clemens rumors that the great German triumph is still going on fail. But he can still come – from me or another German.
Played among the top 25 in the world
In 2018, Hopp made it to the EM semi-finals and failed there in a dramatic way. Since then, more and more Clemens has triumphed and – past Hopp – played among the best 25 in the world. Its development is constant, but so far it has not made very big leaps. My goal was to establish myself in the top 32, and I succeeded, said Clemens, whose highlight last year was a World Cup victory over then defending champion Peter Wright.
Behind Clemens, who will also be Germany’s great hope at the World Cup in London in December after the EM, something has shifted. Long-time hopeful Hopp did not qualify for the EM. He had a difficult year and also has to fear an end to the World Cup. Max currently has a little low, but I am sure that he WILL come back again, said Clemens about his partner at the Team World Cup when they made it to the quarter-finals.
Hempel’s EM debt
Instead, FlorianHempel WILL celebrate his EM debt on Thursday (10.30 p.m.) and play directly against Bird of Paradise Wright, who is after all the defending champion. On paper, of course, Wright is a huge favorite. Nobody expects a win from me, saidHempel the specialist portal Checkout -Der Darts-Podcast. However, the 31-year-old has certain long-term ambitions, as he emphasized before the biggest match of his career so far. I don’t want to be the underdog forever. I want to work my way up the world rankings and also be the favorite in a game.
dpa-infocom, dpa: 211012-99-574481 / 4