"I was out of the tournament! But I'm alive" - Florian Hempel pulls off incredible comeback to dump out Dimitri Van den Bergh

Florian Hempel pulled off a shock at the World Darts Championship. In the second round, he defeated 15th-seed, Dimitri Van Den Bergh 3-2, despite having trailed 2-0.

Hempel thus neatly repeated his feat of two years ago at the World Championship. "It's an amazing feeling," he reflected in his post match press conference. "I was out of the tournament! But I'm alive. The 151 was a big turning point for me so I'm just happy."

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"After going 2-0 up in the first set I lost everything in my body, I just couldn't feel the dart but thankfully I got it back," he continues. "I won the game, had back to back 10-darters so in the end I'm happy with the game but I have to analyse what happened in the first two sets."

Not only does this win keep Hempel's World Darts Championship hopes alive, but also ensures the keeps his Tour Card and retains his professional status. "I didn't know that after the game to be honest. But I'm really happy, another year on the tour and no Q-School in January. Maybe a week in the sun?" Hempel laughs.

The 33-year-old German will take on the winner of the duel between Stephen Bunting and Ryan Joyce in the third round.

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