“After this year for me, it’s amazing” - Ally Pally brings the best out of Gabriel Clemens again with Luke Humphries up next

Gabriel Clemens has once again shown why the PDC World Darts Championship remains a special tournament for him. The German produced a composed 3-0 victory over Wessel Nijman to move into the third round at Alexandra Palace, relying less on standout numbers and more on control and experience at key moments at the 2026 edition.

“It’s always good to win a game, and against Wessel, one of the best players this year on the floor. Yeah, I’m really happy,” reflected the German, former World Championship semi-finalist in his post-match press conference afterwards.

Nijman arrived in London with a strong reputation after an impressive year on the ProTour, and Clemens was well aware of the challenge in front of him. That awareness translated into a measured performance, where small margins proved decisive. Scoring power between the two was closely matched, but Clemens was the sharper of the pair on the doubles. “The average is not important. It’s always the win.”

That mindset has long defined Clemens’ approach. Rather than chasing statistics, he focuses on execution when opportunities arise. “I focus on my game, and I’m always there when I have a chance. I put the darts in the doubles when I have the chance, and that’s it.”

The victory also carried personal significance. After a mixed year, reaching the third round in London felt like a timely reward. “After this year for me, it’s amazing to be in the Worlds and into the third round. Yeah, I’m happy with it, but now I prepare for the third round.”

Alexandra Palace has been a happy hunting ground for Clemens in the past, most notably during his semi-final run in 2023. Asked about his relationship with the venue, his response was immediate. “Of course, I have my best tournament here so far, and yeah, I love the party.”

Attention now turns to the third round, where Clemens is set to face Luke Humphries. The German was unfazed by the scale of the task. “It’s not important against who. I prepare for Luke.”

Differences in playing style or tempo are equally irrelevant to him. “It’s not important what speed the other guy plays. I must put the dart in the double, and then it’s okay.”

Calm, focused and unapologetically pragmatic, Clemens moves into the next phase of the tournament knowing exactly what he needs to do. Whether that will be enough against one of the title favourites remains to be seen, but once again, Ally Pally has brought out the best in him.