Max Hopp believes Germany's next Premier League Darts contender is emerging, naming Martin Schindler and Niko Springer as the leading candidates. Speaking to Viaplay, Hopp stated, "I think it will be between Martin Schindler and Niko Springer. They have the scoring power, and on a good day, they can beat players like Luke Humphries and Luke Littler." Schindler is currently the highest-ranked German on the Order of Merit, but Hopp emphasized the level required to compete with the sport's elite beyond just rankings.
Reflecting on the Premier League environment, Hopp highlighted the unique challenges of the event, citing the Berlin night as a standout fixture. He noted, "The Premier League is always a fantastic event. The eight best players belong there," while acknowledging debates over selections like James Wade or Danny Noppert this year. Hopp contrasted performances, pointing out that Josh Rock excels on the European Tour but faces blocks in the Premier League, whereas Jonny Clayton raises his level there. He shared his own experience facing Raymond van Barneveld before a sold-out crowd of around 12,000, describing the arena as "three times bigger than at a Euro Tour" and emphasizing the mental switch required after the walk-on and nine practice darts.
Despite a growing pool of German Tour Card holders, Hopp admitted Germany is yet to produce a major winner, with no simple explanation. He said, "It's difficult to say why that is. If we knew the answer, we would have changed it already," calling for more resilience in matches and noting the higher standard set by nations like the Netherlands with players such as Michael van Gerwen. Hopp also mentioned the psychological barrier, where the first German major winner could gain special status but also create pressure. Behind Schindler and Springer, he sees a strong group but not yet at Premier League level.
On his own resurgence, Hopp is targeting a climb back up the rankings after qualifying for the World Championship again and winning a match there. He reported his averages are now consistently around 90 and he hit a nine-darter in February. Currently around 70th in the world rankings, his goal is to move towards the top 64 and top 50, with a motivated mindset to get the best out of himself.
