All German Players Exit Early at Darts World Championship in Disappointing Show

Germany's hopes at the Darts World Championship were dashed in a brutal Sunday showing as all three German competitors were eliminated early in the tournament. Martin Schindler, ranked 13th worldwide, had a disappointing defeat at the hands of Ryan Searle, losing 0-4 in just 23 minutes while managing to hit only 2 out of 15 double attempts.

Gabriel Clemens, the 47th ranked player, put up a formidable fight against reigning world champion Luke Humphries but ultimately lost 2-4 despite averaging 101.49 points and hitting half of his doubles attempts. Clemens remarked, "I had a good game. He was just better at the crucial moments."

First-time World Championship entrant Arno Merk also faced tough competition in Michael van Gerwen, the world number 3, and succumbed 1-4, though he showed resilience particularly in the third set. Earlier in the tournament, Ricardo "Pikachu" Pietreczko had also been eliminated, marking a collective early exit for the German team.

Despite the losses, Clemens earned £35,000 (€40,000) for his performance. Humphries advanced to the next round to face Nathan Aspinall or Kevin Doets. The German players' struggle with key doubles and critical moments ultimately led to their premature departure, ending Germany's run at this year's championship in disappointment.