"All the better for me. I’m not complaining about that” - Gabriel Clemens makes the most of Alex Spellman's struggles to kickstart Ally Pally campaign

Gabriel Clemens won his opening match at the 2026 World Darts Championship comfortably 3-0 against Alex Spellman, setting the tone early for victory. Despite the clear scoreline, the “German Giant” offered a realistic assessment of his display afterward.

“Alex definitely didn’t play what he’s capable of today — but all the better for me. I’m not complaining about that,” Clemens explained at the post-match press conference (YouTube).

The 42-year-old produced an early highlight with a 170 checkout in the second leg. “A finish like that naturally gives you confidence for the next legs,” said Clemens, who controlled the match from there.

He still wasn’t entirely satisfied with his game. The fluctuations in scoring bothered him most: “I don’t really know why, but often the first two darts landed in the five. It was definitely on me — there was no wind on stage,” Clemens joked.

Despite the one-sided flow of the match, the pre-game tension was palpable. “Until five minutes before the match I wasn’t nervous at all. The walk-on is when the nerves hit — but luckily I handled it well,” the 'German Giant' explained. The pressure regarding the rankings wasn’t a central factor for him: “The extra £10,000 in prize money is nice, but I back myself to earn enough over an entire year.”

Clemens also spoke candidly about the difficult past months. “If you don’t win many of your last 20 matches, it’s obvious the confidence suffers. But here at Ally Pally I have good memories — you always walk in with a smile.” A key to the clear win was his strong 50 percent on doubles, which he said he had been specifically working on lately.

A much tougher test awaits in round two with Wessel Nijman. “That will be tough. I’ve played him a few times and I’ve beaten him before. He has a lot of scoring power — and I’ll try to avoid those 28s, 29s, or 30s,” Clemens said with a wink. But the overall package will be decisive: “I need to score well too — and I can do that when I’m in.”

The German once again drew strong backing from the fans. “It’s a great feeling when you walk in and see lots of people wearing your shirt.”

Until the second-round match on 12/22/2026, Clemens will head home — and straight back into preparation. “I’m flying tomorrow, then it’s back to practice.”

Clemens also spoke positively about the future World Championship venue. He sees the planned move to the Great Hall from next year as an opportunity: “Everyone knows the Ally Pally name — and in the big hall it will surely be a bit louder. I’m looking forward to it.”