“I’m absolutely stoked to sneak through that one” – Caleb Hope reacts to stunning second straight 3-0 win at the WDF World Championship

Caleb Hope continues to defy expectations at the WDF World Championship. The New Zealander, who arrived at Lakeside joking that he was “really just here to carry bags,” has now produced back-to-back 3–0 victories. After a composed opening-round performance, Hope again impressed with a dominant win over Liam Maendl-Lawrance. Speaking afterwards, the Kiwi was measured but clearly satisfied with his progress.

“I was absolutely stoked to sneak through that one,” Hope said. “I felt way more comfortable than yesterday. So yeah — very happy.”

In his first match, Hope’s success was built largely on clinical doubling. Against Maendl-Lawrance, his all-round game showed further development. “Yesterday, doubles saved me. I put the legs away pretty quickly when I got to a double, but there were a lot of triple-less visits,” he explained. “Today I felt like my scoring was a lot better, and I was still putting away the doubles in pretty good time. So yeah — happy.”

That improvement was evident on stage, particularly in the final set where he allowed himself a few small celebrations after heavy scoring visits. “A few little celebrations, yeah,” he admitted. “I think I’m starting to feel more at home up there. I knew I had to lift my game. When I got the first couple of sets, all of a sudden he was going 140, 140, 140. You’ve got to take your chances. He was unlucky to miss a couple, but I just knew I had to put it away — and I’m stoked that I did.”

Hope noted that Maendl-Lawrance is a player he has followed for some time. “I haven’t been around darts for super long, but Liam’s a name I’ve seen pop up regularly. I knew I had to lift my game.”

That progression will be tested next by James Beeton, a challenge Hope welcomes. “I said to my family back home: every game, you’ve just got to lift. It’ll be no different against James,” he said. “If I can get 20% better than today, I’ll be stoked. As long as I play well, regardless of the result, I’ll be happy.”

Another noticeable element of Hope’s performance was his interaction with a group of supporters at the side of the auditorium. “I found a table who were calling my name a few times,” he said. “When things were going well, I gave them a little nod. They were a massive help getting over the line.”

With two convincing wins secured and his confidence continuing to build, Caleb Hope’s unexpected run is gathering momentum. From “bag carrier” to emerging contender, he is proving he belongs on the Lakeside stage. How deep this run will go remains to be seen — but it’s increasingly clear that Hope is a player who demands attention.