Hempel disagrees with Marijanovic's criticism of German darts federation: ''Wrong to push darts too much into the team stage''

Next weekend, the new PDC season will also kick off in Germany. The first Euro Tour tournament of 2023 will be played in the city of Kiel. One of the German participants is Florian Hempel.

The German, who has had a Tour Card since 2021, is happy with the development of the sport of darts in Germany. "We are on a very good path in Germany as far as darts is concerned and I think it is great that the hype is getting bigger and bigger," he stated in an interview with Dartsnews.de.

Hempel notes, however, that especially the World Darts Championship is followed enormously. He hopes that in time the focus will also shift to the other televised tournaments. "It would be nice if some more people turn on the TV for the World Matchplay or the UK Open. Maybe that will also provide more recruitment for the local clubs again. Maybe the next Gabriel Clemens, Martin Schindler or Florian Hempel is waiting there somewhere,'' Hempel said with a laugh.

In the past, Robert Marijanovic complained that there was too little education in Germany about the paths young players can take. Hempel does not entirely agree. "I think the PDC and the DDV (German league, ed.) are to some extent better positioned and offer points of contact. Especially online. Of course that helps, but in my view it is wrong to try to push darts too much into the team game.''

"Darts is ultimately an individual sport. I think you might have to find a greater balance within the season between the team event - the club - and the individual tournaments,'' Hempel said.