World Darts Championship Match Paused Due to Player’s Stunning Error Leaving Fans in Shock
KAI GOTTHARDT has earned his place in the second round of the PDC World Championship, despite an odd event during his win against Alan Soutar.
The 29-year-old German made his World Darts debut on Monday afternoon, competing against the Scotsman in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Ally Pally.
Currently positioned at No. 135 in the world, Gotthardt entered the first-round match as a notable underdog.
He showcased an impressive performance, advancing to Round Two with a 3-1 win against the seasoned Soutar.
However, an unusual occurrence during the first set ignited a wave of activity on social media and led to the suspension of the match.
With the score at 2-1 in legs against him, Gotthardt alerted the officials that he only had two functioning darts.
The flustered German presented his darts to caller George Noble, who promptly escorted him off the stage.
It seemed he had inadvertently broken the barrel of one of his darts completely.
On his debut at the sport’s grandest venue, he had forgotten to bring a backup set.
Sky Sports cameras captured the bewildered newcomer looking for a new set in his dressing room.
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Meanwhile, a puzzled Soutar interacted with the lively crowd while he waited alone at the oche.
One fan commented on X: “Three legs into his debut, and this occurs. Unbelievable.”
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Another noted: “That’s not great marketing if he’s aiming to sell them.”
A third added: “It’s absurd that he only brought one set of darts to the stage, without any spare barrels or flights.”
Sky commentator Chris Mason remarked on air: “I’ve seen points snap. Initially, I thought it was the point that broke, but it was the actual barrel!”
“Dart designs have evolved significantly, incorporating various tungsten elements to alter weight distribution either at the front or back.
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“Occasionally, manufacturing can reveal a weak point.
“Typically, players will keep an entire spare set in their case in the event of a point breaking.
“But to leave the stage and fetch a completely different set of darts mid-game is something I’ve never witnessed before.”
Despite this hiccup, Gotthardt returned to deliver one of the finest performances of his career.
The 29-year-old averaged 89.10, recording 34 visits of 100 or more in his 3-1 victory.
Gotthardt is scheduled to face fan-favorite Stephen Bunting in the second round on Friday.