"First the child prodigy, then the dropout": Max Hopp uses footballer Mario Gotze as analogy to describe darting career

Max Hopp celebrated his comeback with a win in the evening session of the German Darts Championship 2024 on Friday after more than two years away from the PDC European Tour. The Maximizer was definitely too good for Jose de Sousa with a clear 6-2 win.

Both in terms of average (86.67 compared to 83.82) and in terms of double rate (40 percent compared to 33.3 percent), Hopp's statistics were slightly better than those of the Portuguese player. However, these figures were of no interest to the maximizer after his victory. "I don't care what my stats were," he said in an interview on stage after his match.

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"I'm just happy that I was able to celebrate my comeback on the PDC European Tour like this. Thank you, Hildesheim, for selling out today, for supporting me like this. Many, many thanks! The Maximizer is back!"

The joy he expressed here was written all over his face, especially in the first four legs. He played them all with a smile on his face. Hopp announced that it felt incredibly good to be able to play free and without pressure. "It's a great relief. I think the pressure on me as a person, on the name Max Hopp, has been very high in recent years," he summed it up. "I always compare myself to Mario Götze. First the child prodigy, then the dropout."

"But now the comeback," he continued. "I'm just grateful that I can be here, that I qualified (via the Host Nation Qualifier; editor's note). I'm playing well again now."

"I also dedicate this victory to special people," continued Hopp, without naming these people. "I had a few problems both privately and physically and I'm glad that I celebrated such a victory today and gave you a few 180s (Hopp threw four maximums in this match; editor's note)."

Hopp will face Joe Cullen in the second round and was asked whether his confidence had grown as a result of his win against de Sousa and how he rated his chances of another victory. "I think anything is possible," Hopp replied without hesitation. "I'm really grateful to be here, I'm enjoying every moment. When it's over, it's over, but I want to prove it to myself, I want to give 100 percent."

At the German Darts Championship 2023, Ricardo Pietreczko became the second German after Hopp to win a title on the European Tour. "Ricardo Pietreczko made the crowd very happy here last year," said the maximizer, referring to Pikachu's victory. "Maybe I can do it this year. That's a very big goal, but for now I'm looking forward to the match against Joe Cullen."

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