Darts professional tour experiences the biggest sensation of the year
Goldfinger and the trashiest mullet of the tour: Andrew Gilding (left) lost to Danny Jansen
Source: Lutz Wöckener
Visually, there couldn’t have been a better endgame. In sporting terms, however, this final was simply unthinkable. The number 103 and the 84 in the darts world played for the title. In the end, a 19-year-old who was previously only known for his hairstyle won.
Nfter the biggest success of his career, Danny Jansen first had to go to the toilet. The winner’s interview at Players Championship 9 had to wait. The 19-year-old Dutchman surprisingly won the tour card at the PDC in January, but now, in his tenth professional tournament, he even won his first title.
Jansen, who had previously caused a stir with his mullet hairstyle, defeated the veteran Andrew Gilding 8:6 in the final thanks to a 96 average. “I feel so good, it’s unbelievable. But just as I can win against anyone here, I can also lose against anyone,” said Jansen, who has been playing darts for six years and has now secured the £12,000 prize money with his triumph: “It’s crazy.”
The final was a sensation whose scale is unparalleled in recent years. Not only that the number 103 of the Order of Merit made it to the final with the teenager. Gilding’s run was probably no longer expected by anyone. The 51-year-old last played in a final almost eight years ago, “Goldfinger” lost his tour card three years ago and only regained his right to play two and a half months ago. Before the start of the tournament, he was ranked 84th in the rankings.
But the duo cleared several top players out of the way. While Jansen knocked out Radek Szaganski, William O’Connor, World Champion Peter Wright, Krzysztof Ratajski, Chris Dobey and Dave Chisnall on Friday, Gilding started against Ross Smith, Lewy Williams, Luke Humphries, Rob Cross, Jose de Sousa and Danny Noppert through.
With a better ending for tour debutant Jansen, who is under contract with the German company Bull’s and, in addition to his nerves of steel, which is surprising for his age, also caused a lot of conversation with his looks.
With the subtle chain on his wrist, the much more conspicuous chain around his neck and a trashy mullet hairstyle, Jansen looks like a mixture of Topper Harley, New Kids Turbo and scion of the Flodder family.
“I’ve had the hairstyle, the mullet, since I was a little boy,” Jansen explained in broken English, “now everyone is looking at it. But no problem, right?” No way. Not only the hairstyle, but above all its talented carrier could now come into fashion very soon.
Rear view: Danny Jansen’s mullit in all its glory
Source: Lutz Wöckener
Hop beats Clemens
Surprisingly, Max Hopp was the most successful of the German players. After his 6:2 win over the Scotsman Alan Soutar, the Hessian was also able to win the German duel against Gabriel Clemens. The “Maximiser” prevailed 6:4. Clemens had previously fought his way through his first round match against Rusty-Jake Rodriguez.
The “German Giant” was already 1:4 behind the Austrian, but caught up with the 2:4 and 3:4 and equalized thanks to a 170 checkout. Clemens survived several match darts in the decider before making it 6:5 perfect.
Two years ago opponents, this time direct opponents: Gabriel Clemens (left) and Max Hopp
Source: PDC Europe/Kais Bodensieck
For Hopp, the path could have continued on Friday. He was already leading 5:3 against Gary Anderson, but ended up losing 5:6. Even though he wasn’t able to make up ground in the race for the tour card – the gap to Belgian Mike De Decker in 64th place is still 17,500 pounds – it was a sense of achievement for the Hessian.
Florian Hempel, on the other hand, had to accept the next first round defeat. The Cologne native came back to 5:5 after a 2:5 against Rob Cross, but missed a match dart on double 16 with 140 points left in the decider and lost.
For Michael Unterbuchner (2:6 against Krzysztof Kciuk) and Ricardo Pietreczko (2:6 against Rowby-John Rodriguez), the tournament also ended right after the first match.
Martin Schindler, on the other hand, was able to continue the good form of the previous week, playing a 101 average in the 6:4 against Scott Mitchell, but then lost to Mario Vandenbogaerde despite excellent scoring. After two legs, Schindler had an average throwing of 121, after four it was still 107. However, he only won his first round at 1:5 and was unable to catch up. After the 1:6, the finalists from last Sunday had to call it a day. The headlines were written by others this time.