World Darts Championship - Not only World Championship match: Hempel fights to stay in the darts class
For Florian Hempel, the World Darts Championship is also about staying on the PDC World Tour. The 33-year-old from Cologne will play against Ireland's Dylan Slevin this evening (20:00/Sport1 and DAZN) and is considered the favorite. Hempel has to win to have a chance of defending his own Tour Card.
"I need the Tour Card to be there next year. But it's not primarily in my head. You can put a lot of pressure on yourself just thinking about it. I think I've done quite well by accepting the situation," Hempel told dpa.
Even a victory over Slevin could be too little to slip into the top 64 in the rankings. Then he would need an additional win against the Belgian world-class player Dimitri van den Bergh in round two. If Hempel does not make it into the top 64, he will have to prove himself in the so-called Q-School in January and get his Tour Card back.
For now, however, only the Alexandra Palace in north London counts. "I associate everything with this venue. The World Championship is the highlight of the darts calendar. The word World Championship alone, the Ally Pally - the whole package is something unique. The number of spectators explodes every year," said Hempel. He successfully contested his World Championship opener in 2022 and 2023.
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- Despite being in London for the darts-WM, Florian Hempel also has his eyes set on the International World Association's tour, aiming to secure his PDC Tour Card through success.
- Germany's Florian Hempel is set to face Ireland's Dylan Slevin in the World Darts Championship this evening, with coverage available on Sport1 and DAZN.
- Germany's Florian Hempel acknowledges the significance of the London-based World Darts Championship, deeming it the pinnacle of the darts calendar and a unique experience due to its growing audience.
- In the continued pursuit of his goal to stay in the PDC, Florian Hempel from Cologne will have to face off against Dimitri van den Bergh from Belgium in the next round, should he manage to defeat Ireland's Dylan Slevin.
- After the World Darts Championship, players who fail to make it into the top 64 must go through the Q-School in January to regain their PDC Tour Card, as revealed by Florian Hempel.
- This year's World Darts Championship, taking place in north London's Alexandra Palace, marks yet another opportunity for Florian Hempel to shine on the global stage and prove himself against the best in the sport, such as Great Britain's contenders.
Source: www.stern.de
