Hempel Sets Up Christmas TV Repeat With Van Den Bergh

Florian Hempel will face a rematch with Dimitri van den Bergh in a World Championship Second Round contest, after the German international recovered from a set down to defeat Dylan Slevin 3-1 in the opening clash of Sunday’s evening session.

The Dessau born player has always got past his first round on the world stage, having defeated Martin Schindler on his debut and Keegan Brown 12 months ago.

The contest though started in favour of Slevin who was making his debut in North London, taking a 1-0 lead at the first interval courtesy of a 77 checkout in 2 darts on double 10.

The young Irishman then found the highest checkout of the tournament at the time, hitting a 167 finish on the bullseye in the 2^nd set. Florian forced a ton plus checkout himself in the following leg after hitting a 107 finish, before finding a crucial break in the 5^th and final leg to level the First-Round tie at 1-1.

Dylan claimed an instant break at the start of the third set but surrendered a 2-0 lead to the Winmau player, who wrapped up the deciding 5^th leg with an 85 finish to move a set from victory.

Hempel included 5 180s and a 91.06 average to advance a 3-1 winner against Slevin, moving through to face Dimitri van den Bergh again at the Alexandra Palace. The pair met at the 2022 World Championship, with Dimitri falling as the 5^th Seed to Florian who clinched a 3-1 win before the Christmas break.

Tournament favourite Luke Humphries included 6 180s as he got his campaign for a maiden World title underway, defeating Lee Evans 3-0 in the final tungsten contest of the day. Cool Hand Luke survived numerous set darts from his opponent in the third set, recovering from a 2-0 deficit to clinch victory with a 93.58 average.

Lee despite defeat hit the first 170 finish of the 2024 World Darts Championship, pinning the bull in the third leg to break the World Number 3’s throw.

The Red Dragon player will face either Callan Rydz, Ricardo Pietreczko or Mikuru Suzuki in the Third Round after Christmas.

Former Masters Champion Joe Cullen continued the 100% record for the seeds at the Alexandra Palace, with victory in the afternoon session.

The Rockstar defeated Darren Penhall 3-0 including a 160 finish in winning the opening set. The Bradford born player hit 6 180s and a 93.41 average to defeat the Australian international, finding double 2 to secure a place in the Third Round for a fourth consecutive year.

Joe was also impressive on the outer ring, missing 8 darts at double in recording a finishing rate of 52.94% at the Alexandra Palace. The Winmau player will face Ryan Searle, Ian White or Japanese international Tomoya Goto in the Last 32.

Elsewhere, Fallon Sherrock MBE fell to a 3-1 defeat against a resurgent Jermaine Wattimena, with the Dutchman including a 110 finish on double 16 after surviving missed darts at double to break from the Queen of the Palace. Compatriot Niels Zonneveld picked up his first win on the world stage after he beat 2 Time Quarter Finalist Darren Webster 3-1, to set up a clash with 16^th Seed Ross Smith.

2021 World Champion Gerwyn Price kickstarts his campaign on Day 4 against an inform Connor Scutt, who found a 95.97 average in winning his first match on the world stage 3-0 against Krzysztof Kciuk.