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Florian Hempel celebrates his victory against Dimitri Van den Bergh - and now Christmas in London
Photo:
Ian Stephen / imago images / Pro Sports Images
The German dart player Florian Hempel managed a surprise at the World Cup in London and threw fellow favorite Dimitri van den Bergh out of the tournament.
The 31-year-old Cologne-based player defeated the Belgian top player 3-1 on Tuesday evening and made it through to the third round completely unexpectedly.
Hempel is currently doing his first year as a professional at the PDC World Federation.
“I beat one of the best players in the world.
(...) This is my first year.
Now I'm in the third round.
This is insane, ”said Hempel at Sky Sports.
He is guaranteed a prize money of 25,000 pounds (around 29,500 euros).
Hempel got off to a strong start right from the start.
With an average of 106 points, he initially played an extremely high level and snatched the first set from the co-favorite.
After that, van den Bergh, after all the 2020 World Matchplay winner, increased significantly and won the second set.
Hempel brought the victory to the finish.
"Great Christmas"
For the lateral entrant it is in the third round against the unseeded Australian Raymond Smith.
Hempel now has to spend Christmas on the island.
Due to the strict quarantine rules in the midst of the corona pandemic, it is impossible to travel home.
He will spend the holidays at the hotel, said Hempel.
"I don't have big plans, but it's going to be a great Christmas."
If he defeats Smith on December 27th (4 p.m., Sport1 and DAZN), he would be only the second German in a World Cup round of 16.
Gabriel Clemens achieved this last year by defeating the Scottish defending champion Peter Wright.
Clemens joins the tournament on Thursday.
hba / dpa / sid
