Peter Wright won the German Darts Masters (Picture: Kais Bodensieck/PDC Europe)
Peter Wright won the German Darts Masters (Picture: Kais Bodensieck/PDC Europe)

German Darts Masters results: Peter Wright defeats Gabriel Clemens to win his first PDC title of the season


Peter Wright claimed his first individual PDC title of the season by defeating Gabriel Clemens 8-6 in the German Darts Masters final.

Snakebite had endured a disappointing 2019 by his lofty standards prior to winning the World Cup of Darts alongside Gary Anderson last month and he's not taken long to follow it up with a first solo triumph since landing the Melbourne Darts Masters last August.

Wright, who was beaten by eventual champion Nathan Aspinall in the semi-finals of the US Darts Masters last weekend, clinched this title for the second time in three years as he gave his confidence ahead of next week's World Matchplay a real shot in the arm.

It's the fourth televised title of his career and 23rd overall while Clemens can take a lot of heart from a superb weekend in front of 8,000 home fans at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, where he defeated Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross and Mensur Suljovic en route to his third final of the season.

The German Giant was backed on these pages at 80/1 each-way despite never reaching a televised final before but having now showing his rich potential on a big stage, he'll certainly be one to watch in future events.

Wright was also tipped at 10/1 in our pre-event preview, making this a profitable weekend for followers of our darts previews.

Neither player was able to produce their finest performances of the weekend when the trophy was on the line but Wright's average of 93.27 was marginally better than Clemens' 92.69 while he hit three more 180s with five and hit eight of his 23 attempts at doubles, with his opponent missing 15 of his 21.

The 35-year-old underdog, who had reached two Players Championship finals earlier this year, did make a superb start as he raced into a 3-1 lead courtesy of a 134 finish that featured a pair of double tops.

Wright, whose highest checkout was a 116 in the third leg, pulled it back to 4-4 before going ahead for the first time with a clinical 11-darter and from there he was able to keep his nose in front and clinch the title.

"It feels great to win this title again, I thought I was in the form to win it but you never know because there are so many good players who can beat you," said Wright, who won the £20,000 top prize.

"There were a few moments where I was lucky but I think I was skilful enough and mentally strong enough to win it. I'm coming back to my best but I'm not there yet.

"I've played Gabriel a couple of times and he's an amazing player, hats off to him. German darts has gone through an incredible rise and it's only going to keep growing, this tournament showed that."

Semi-final round-up

Gabriel Clemens thrilled the home crowd as he reached the German Darts Masters final with an 8-3 victory over the defending champion Mensur Suljovic.

The 35-year-old, who was tipped up on these pages at 80/1 each-way, followed up his victories over Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross this weekend to reach his first PDC televised final.

Suljovic wiped out Clemens' early 2-0 lead with an 11-darter before restoring parity at 3-3 but after that it was one way traffic as the German Giant reeled off five legs on the spin to claim an impressive victory with an average of 92.61, while he hit eight of his 19 darts at doubles.

He will now face 2017 champion Peter Wright, who was also tipped up at 10/1, after Snakebite overcame James Wade 8-4 in the first semi-final.

The Scotsman is bidding for his first individual PDC title of the season having won the World Cup of Darts alongside Gary Anderson and he'll be favourite following another morale-boosting display.

Wright averaged 96.3 compared to Wade's 90.27 while he was also slightly more clinical on his doubles, taking out 8 of his 15 attempts as the Machine spurned five of his nine.

Both players did manage 121 checkouts in an entertaining affair but it was Wright who came through to reach his second final of the season.

Quarter-final round-up

James Wade dismantled an awful performance Daryl Gurney as he waltzed into the German Darts Masters semi-finals with an 8-0 victory in Cologne.

Gurney may not play this badly in his entire career, averaging just 74.78 and managing just one dart at a double - which he obviously missed.

James Wade emphatically punished the Northern Irishman by averaging 97.76 and hitting eight of his 12 darts at a double.

In the opening match of the night, Gary Anderson's conqueror Nico Kurz was unable to repeat his heroics against Peter Wright but he did run him close in an 8-6 defeat.

The 2017 champion averaged 97.29 despite missing 18 of his 26 attempts at doubles although he did manage the highest checkout of the match with a superb effort from 143.

Kurz, 22, had the 8,000 German support on his side like he did against the Flying Scotsman and back-to-back legs in 13 and 15 legs gave himself a glimmer of a chance at 7-5 before Wright finished the job.

Martin Schindler was unable to raise the roof for the second night running as he crashed out against Mensur Suljovic.

The 22-year-old came from 5-1 down to stun Michael van Gerwen 6-5 on Friday night but he averaged just 91.05 and missed six darts at doubles as defending champion Suljovic ran out a comfortable 8-2 winner with an average of 100.89.

There was joy for the home fans, however, when Gabriel Clemens pulled off a great result to defeat Rob Cross 8-5 and set up a clash with Suljovic.

The 35-year-old is enjoying a superb season having reached two Players Championship finals and a clinical display on his finish helped him deft Voltage's 105.86 average.

Cross found himself 7-3 against the German Giant despite his high scoring before a 124 checkout completed a 12-darter, which he followed up with an 11-darter to keep his faint hopes alive.

But Clemens, who had earlier made a match high 131 checkout for an 12-darter and also took out 84 for another in 11, finished kept his cool in the 12th leg to seal another impressive win.

German Darts Masters: Tournament results

Friday July 12
First Round (Best of 11 legs)

  • James Wade 6-2 Kevin Munch
  • Gary Anderson 4-6 Nico Kurz
  • Daryl Gurney 6-2 Christian Bunse
  • Peter Wright 6-4 Robert Marijanovic
  • Raymond van Barneveld 4-6 Gabriel Clemens
  • Mensur Suljovic 6-2 Maik Langendorf
  • Michael van Gerwen 5-6 Martin Schindler
  • Rob Cross 6-4 Max Hopp

Saturday July 13
Quarter-Finals (Best of 15 legs)
TV Coverage: ITV4 from 8pm BST

  • Peter Wright 8-6 Nico Kurz
  • Daryl Gurney 0-8 James Wade
  • Martin Schindler 2-8 Mensur Suljovic
  • Rob Cross 5-8 Gabriel Clemens

Semi-Finals (Best of 15 legs)

  • Peter Wright 8-4 James Wade
  • Mensur Suljovic 3-8 Gabriel Clemens

Final (Best of 15 legs)

  • Peter Wright 8-6 Gabriel Clemens

World Series of Darts: 2019 Event Calendar

  • US Darts Masters – July 4-5, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas (Winner: Nathan Aspinall)
  • German Darts Masters – July 12-13, LANXESS Arena, Cologne
  • Brisbane Darts Masters – August 9-10, BCEC, Brisbane
  • Melbourne Darts Masters – August 16-17, Melbourne Arena
  • NZ Darts Masters – August 23-24, Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
  • World Series of Darts Finals - November 1-3, AFAS Live, Amsterdam

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