Stefan Bellmont will participate in the World Championship this winter. image: instagram
Stefan Bellmont will be the first Swiss to participate in the World Darts Championship (December 15 to January 3). A ticket obtained thanks to an exploit this weekend as well as the opening of an unusual place.
Follow meLess than two months ago, Stefan Bellmont (35) missed the Basel tournament, the first meeting organized in Switzerland bringing together the best darts players in the world. The fault of an elimination during the national qualifications.
But this weekend in Germany, the Zougois completely made up for it by achieving a real feat: he won a tournament (91 participants) directly qualifying for the World Championship (December 15, 2024 to January 3, 2025).
He will thus be the first Swiss to participate in this event, which is held in the legendary Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally) in London.
Stefan Bellmont is considered the best Swiss dart thrower.Image: www.imago-images.de
He talks about his feat this weekend.????
Before the tournament, did you feel that there was a big move to make?
STEFAN BELLMONT: I prepared like any other tournament. But I kept in mind that last year I managed to reach the semi-finals. I believed in myself, I had hope that I could achieve something.
“But I also didn’t imagine that the whole day would go like this. Everything went really well”
My first of seven victories gave me a good feeling and confirmed that I was in good shape. Throughout the tournament, I was able to provide a consistent performance and maybe even played a little above my usual level. But that’s also what’s needed in this kind of situation.
You are going to realize your dream: playing in the Ally Pally in London, during the World Championship.
In 2014, my parents organized a trip to see the World Championship. We watched the two semi-finals and, more as a joke, I said, “Next time I come to the Ally Pally, I don’t want to be in the audience, but on stage.” Exactly ten years later, this dream will come true!
London’s Ally Pally, the largest darts stage in the world.Image: imago sports photo service
What do you expect from this World Cup, both in terms of sport and experience?
The situation must first return to calm and I realize what I have accomplished, even if the echo is really very strong. I think I check the “Teletext” application on my cell phone fifteen times a day, so the fact of having a page talking about my victory already makes me proud.
Did you take a screenshot of it?
Yes of course! (laughs)
Two months ago you opened your own darts venue in Cham (ZG), which includes a small bar, with the aim of doubling your daily training hours. Is the victory in Germany the first fruit of this investment?
In any case, I was able to do more training by doubling my hours, yes. The location has been open for two and a half months now, but everything still needs to fall into place.
Very nice check for the winner
With his qualification, Stefan Bellmont is already assured of receiving 8,400 Swiss francs. A ticket for the second round would increase this sum to 17,000 francs. The world champion will receive a check for 560’000 francs.
Mentally, it can be difficult to play in a venue as impressive as Ally Pally. Are you planning a different preparation?
I’ve already played on stage several times, but the World Championship is a different story.
“I have been doing mental training for three or four years, which has also had a positive effect. For the World Cup, I will certainly work intensively in this area.
It’s also important to me that my environment is positive. When that’s the case, I feel good and that’s definitely one of the reasons why everything is good at the moment and I can play in a liberated way.
The Darts World Cup is also a great celebration for the public.Image: www.imago-images.de
On which song will you make your entrance on stage in London? We heard that it could be W.Nuss from Bümplizand therefore an infidelity to Lift U Up de Gotthard…
No, definitely not! I can already say that it will be Lift U Up, because I don’t want to change anything in my routine. This song is a part of me and I can draw a lot of strength from this routine. And it must stay that way.
Translation and adaptation into French: Yoann Graber
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