Daniel Klose wins PDC Europe Next Gen 2026 opener in Hildesheim

PDC Europe NEXT GEN 2026 kicked off with a statement performance – and it came from Daniel Klose. The 45-year-old German claimed the title at Event 1 of the new season in Halle 39 in Hildesheim, giving Switzerland’s Marcel Walpen almost no chance in a 6-1 final. Klose impressed especially down the stretch with a consistently high level and averages flirting with the 100 mark.

With a sold-out field of 384 players, the Next Gen also enjoyed a historic start. The new league format made its debut, echoing the football Champions League: every participant played three matches in the league phase before the tournament moved on with the top 128 into a classic knockout bracket.

Statistically, Paul Krohne stood out most. He opened with a 101 average in a 4-0 over Moritz Klein in the Top 512 round, then raised the bar with a superb 105 average in a 4-0 against Sebastian Alfuth in the Top 128. In the Top 64, he added another clear 4-0 with a 98 average against Jonathan Parvaneh.​

Florian Preis also underlined his status as one of the most exciting prospects in the German-speaking scene. He opened his day with a 101 average in a 4-1 against Cedrik Gartz and stayed in the tournament’s upper tier with a composed run to the quarterfinals. He lost 1-5 there to Jason Riedtke, but had already made his mark on this first event.

From the last 16, the level climbed clearly again. Almost all remaining players operated with averages of 80 or more, with many matches well above that. Jaimy van de Weerd particularly impressed at this stage, marching into the quarterfinals with a 97 average in a 4-0 over Patrick Trinker.

In the last eight, the names that would define the day came through. Marcel Walpen beat Lenny Schlüter 5-1, and Jason Riedtke halted Florian Preis by the same scoreline. Van de Weerd edged Michael Hurtz in a high-class 5-4 thriller, while Daniel Klose underlined his title credentials for the first time with a clear 5-1 over Tim Ritter.

In the semifinals, the eventual finalists hit top form. Jaimy van de Weerd gave Jason Riedtke no chance in a 5-0 and reached his first Next Gen final of the year without dropping a leg. On the other side, Klose and Walpen produced a contest on a knife-edge – with the German edging it. In the 5-4 win, both players averaged close to the 100 mark, underlining the quality of the duel.

In hindsight, this semifinal proved pivotal. Walpen showed that his strong 2025 run was no fluke and banked valuable points for the Main Order of Merit with his final appearance. Klose, meanwhile, gained the assurance and confidence in this match that he ruthlessly carried into the final shortly after.

In the final, Daniel Klose gave Marcel Walpen no breathing room in a 6-1. With heavy scoring and clinical finishing, Klose set the tone early and never let the momentum slip. For the German, this win is more than just a tournament triumph: after a strong Next Gen season in 2025, he picks up right where he left off and sends a clear message in the battle for one of the coveted Super League spots and the long-term World Championship route via the Tour.

Despite the final defeat, Walpen still enjoys a near-perfect start. The Swiss not only banked solid prize money, but showed with his run to the decider that he will remain a fixture in the German-speaking Next Gen sphere in 2026. Behind the top names, numerous youngsters like Florian Preis and Mika Donnevert also gained valuable experience under the new league format.