“Last year I beat the number five in the world and this year Humphries is number five too”: Hempel hopes lightning strikes twice with at PDC World Darts Championship

Florian Hempel is through to the 2nd round of the PDC World Championships after an enthralling, last-leg decider victory over Keegan Brown at the Alexandra Palace, not only knocking Brown out of the tournament but also taking away the Needle's tour card as defeat sees Brown slip out of the top 64.

Qualifying for the championship by emerging victorious in the gruelling German Super Series, Hempel played 27 competitive matches in 5 days, winning 24. Now the German is hoping to carry that form onto the biggest stage. "This week was a special week," Hempel said. "Against the best players in Germany, I earned so much self-confidence."

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Emerging from last year's World Championships as one of the breakout stars, Hempel shocked Dimitri van den Bergh in the 2nd round 12 months ago. Now returning to the scene of one of his biggest wins, the German tried to put his finger on what it is about the Ally Pally stage that brings the best out of him. "It's the biggest stage in darts" Hempel says. "So many people watching and the atmosphere is so amazing."

This time around it's Luke Humphries who lies in wait for the German who is hoping to lightning can strike twice. "Last year I beat the number five in the world and this year Humphries is number five too,” he laughs. "I will prepare as good as I can and let's see what happens."

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HEMPEL WINS A THRILLER! Florian Hempel wins a last-leg decider to end an epic tussle with Keegan Brown! #WCDarts | R1 📺 bit.ly/WC23Live

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