Marcel Hausotter secured a landmark first European Tour victory of his career with a 6-4 win over darts legend Raymond van Barneveld at the German Darts Grand Prix 2026 at Zenith Munich on Saturday evening. The Berlin native, in his third attempt at a European Tour win, was visibly emotional after the match, clapping his hands in delight and celebrating in disbelief in the interview area.
In an exclusive interview with DartsNews (YouTube), Hausotter expressed his joy, saying, "Super, really great. Honestly, it was an amazing crowd—they supported me a lot, and I'm just happy." He credited the Munich fans for playing a decisive role, noting he didn't miss the "Hausi" chants and remarked, "Everything, really. I just wanted to have fun, and this time I took everything in." This shift in perspective helped him relax on stage, as he explained, "I told myself after a few legs: just enjoy it, and then things can go better. That helped me relax more."
Facing five-time world champion van Barneveld added significance to the win. Hausotter acknowledged, "Of course, definitely. He's a legend," but added, "I also knew he hasn't been at his very best recently. Still, he played very well at the last World Championship, so I think I was a bit lucky that he let me into the game." After 22 years in the sport, he ranks this success highly, stating, "Yes, definitely right at the top—almost number one, I'd say."
There's little time for Hausotter to rest, as he faces another top opponent, Jonny Clayton, on Sunday. He approaches the challenge without added pressure, saying, "I'm just happy to be back on stage again with him. I'll just enjoy it."
