🔥 Unbelievable World Darts Championship Upset 🎯
German rising star Gabriel Clemens took on Man Lok Leung from Hong Kong in his opening World Darts Championship match this year. Despite a rocky start, Clemens stunned everyone with a monumental victory on Monday evening.
Gabriel Clemens was initially predicted to face up-and-coming Dutchman Gian van Veen. However, Clemens never forgot about his opening opponent, Man Lok Leung. "He's not that bad, he can play darts well," Clemens acknowledged, acknowledging Leung, who wasn't as widely known.
Clemens had previously faced Leung during the Team World Championships in June, an encounter that Leung didn't leave with an impressive image. Fortunately, Clemens took this lesson to heart, avoiding underestimating a potential opponent ahead of the World Championships.
And the lesson paid off! Leung stepped up to the plate, throwing numerous 180s throughout the match, while van Veen struggled in the face of the sudden pressure. The underdog averaged a remarkable 99 points in the second half of the game, while van Veen's scoring remained weak at 75 points.
It was a massive upset: Leung, with 11 180s under his belt and finally hitting the doubles, managed to win despite being behind 2-0. "I'm so happy because I never thought I could win this game," Leung shared, reflecting on his incredible victory.
From a part-time darts store clerk to World Championship contender, Leung's unique training routine likely played a part in his success. "When there are no customers in the store, I go to the board," Leung explained, sharing his unconventional training method.
Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen's quest for the World Championship title continued, with both players advancing to the next round. The "Iceman" clinched 3-0 against Connor Scutt, while van Gerwen faced Irishman Keane Barry, who was not performing at his best.
However, the German contingent was also making waves at the "Ally Pally." Dragutin Horvat, returning to the World Championship after a five-year absence, played against Belgium's Mike De Decker, while Ricardo Pietreczko faced the last remaining woman in the field, Mikuru Suzuki from Japan.
Though Pietreczko was provisionally considered the better player, his inability to handle booing crowds in the past could cause potential issues.
