Mixed feelings with Hempel after participation in European Darts Matchplay: 'Mainly because it went well the last few weeks'

Florian Hempel was allowed to take part in the European Darts Matchplay last weekend, where he triumphed in the first round 6-2 against Bradley Brooks.

Despite the big result, Hempel was not satisfied with his performance. "With one of my worst performances a round further", is how the darter from Cologne described his match. "Happy with the win, but a bit subdued because of the way it went, especially since the last couple of weeks it went really well.

Hempel also knows why he could not play at his best. "Because of my current position, I was just too tense instead of relaxed to throw my darts," he analysed.

In the second round of the European Darts Matchplay, Hempel lost hopelessly 6-2 to Dimitri van den Bergh, who posted an average of almost 111 in that match. "It was a mighty blow for me. I suspected something like that before the match, but huge respect for Dimitri's performance'."

The German will start the second half of the season with confidence. "I go into the second half of the year with an important £2,000 (earned at European Darts Matchplay) and feel confident. I'm looking forward to the next tournaments and I still have a lot of work to do," said Hempel.