Day 2 of the Darts World Championship featured a dramatic win for German player Kai Gotthardt over Alan Soutar, despite a broken dart incident. Emotional moments unfolded as Cameron Menzies lost to Leonard Gates, leaving him in tears. Other highlights included upsets by Jermaine Wattimena and a solid performance from Gerwyn Price. As the tournament progresses, additional German players, including Niko Springer and Ricardo Pietreczko, are set to compete, showcasing their skills on the international stage.
Dramatic Moments at the Darts World Championship
A broken dart, emotional moments for a Scottish player, and a triumphant victory for the ‘Iceman’ marked Day 2 of the Darts World Championship in London. For German fans, it was also a day of celebration as a remarkable record was further enhanced.
Kai Gotthardt’s Historic Victory
German dart player Kai Gotthardt etched his name into the annals of the Darts World Championship with a surprising yet decisive win against the favored Scot, Alan Soutar. This match will be remembered not just for the outcome but for an unusual incident involving a broken dart.
During the first set, while trailing 2:1, Gotthardt halted play unexpectedly in the fourth leg when the barrel of one of his darts broke in half. Typically, the connector holds the dart’s tip and shaft together, but that wasn’t the case this time. A moment of confusion ensued as Gotthardt showcased the damage to Soutar before approaching the referee, who quickly acknowledged the situation could not continue as is.
The challenge arose because Gotthardt did not have a spare dart with him on stage, which is a common practice among players. Many come fully equipped with an arsenal of darts, but Gotthardt had only the ones he had been using for over four years. “I’ve never had a problem before. I even discussed with my sponsor whether to bring a spare,” remarked the 29-year-old from Esslingen after his dramatic win.
Fortunately, Gotthardt managed to assemble a spare barrel backstage, and after a brief four-minute delay, the match resumed. He began strong with a score of 97, followed by a 140, but still lost the first set 2:3. Undeterred, the newcomer quickly gained momentum, winning the next three sets and celebrating his victory with friends in the audience. He now looks forward to facing world number eight, Stephen Bunting, in the next round on Friday.
Gotthardt’s debut marks a significant achievement for German dart players, with 12 out of the 18 who debuted since 2006 winning their first match. This tradition of strong performances began with Tomas ‘Shorty’ Seiler in 2006, who also defeated a Scot in his debut.
As the tournament progresses, another promising German player, Niko Springer, is set to compete against last year’s semi-finalist, Scott Williams. The 24-year-old from Mainz has made a name for himself this year and is eager to showcase his skills on the professional stage.
Before Springer’s match, Ricardo Pietreczko will take to the stage as one of six Germans in the tournament. Having reached the third round last year, he is favored against Chinese player Xiao Chen Zong.
Later in the evening, the 2020 and 2022 world champion, Peter Wright, is expected to face a tough match against Dutchman Wesley Plaisier, as his recent form has not been up to par.
After the drama of Gotthardt’s match, another Dutch player, Jermaine ‘Machine Gun’ Wattimena, caused an upset by defeating world number 16, James Wade, 3:0, eliminating the first seeded player of the tournament.
Gerwyn Price, the 2021 world champion, comfortably advanced against Keane Barry, despite the young Irish player’s struggles with doubles, hitting only two out of 24 attempts. Price moves on with ease, ready to continue his campaign after the holiday break.
In a more emotional turn, Cameron Menzies’ performance left him in tears as he faced Leonard Gates from the USA. Despite entering the championship with high hopes, Menzies faltered under pressure, ultimately losing the match. The audience’s lack of empathy added to his distress as he exited the stage visibly upset.
Following the match, Gates expressed his support for Menzies, highlighting the importance of mental well-being in competitive sports. Despite his elimination, Menzies plans to return to support his girlfriend, Fallon Sherrock, as she competes later in the evening against Ryan Meikle.