Gabriel Clemens showed himself to be another giant killer on the Euro Tour on Saturday night. After beating
Michael van Gerwen two weeks back at the Flanders Darts Trophy, this time he eliminated Luke Humphries in the second round of the
Hungarian Darts Trophy.
With a 72 finish and a 15-darter, Clemens took a break lead after just two legs, and an 86 finish moments later made it 3-1. However, Humphries came back to 3-3 via a 14-darter and an 80 checkout, before 'Cool Hand Luke' took the lead with a 13-darter.
Humphries then missed four chances to double the lead to 5-3. Clemens then made it 4-4 by hitting the double 16. The German then broke the world number one with a 12-darter, but then missed his first three match darts in the tenth leg. Humphries, who had already put away his arrows, was still alive and threw out 83 to force a final leg. In the final leg, however, Humphries was not out within five visits and Clemens took the match to himself with a 25 finish.
I’ve been playing really good darts in the last few weeks,'' Clemens said afterwards in conversation with master of ceremonies Philip Brzezinski. “I know I can beat the top players, and at the moment, Luke is the best player in the world, so this fills me with confidence.”
Things got a little tricky for 'The German Giant' after he missed three match darts in the 10th leg and then saw Humphries throw out 83 to force a deciding leg. ''It's always a little bit difficult for me with the matchdarts'', he laughed.
So in the last sixteen, Clemens will take on Michael van Gerwen. The 41-year-old German is looking forward to the encounter with the three-time world champion. ''I love to play against Michael van Gerwen,'' he concluded.