Hempel stops quest for nickname: ''It seems like you need a nickname, but that doesn't apply to me''

Florian Hempel managed to qualify for the World Darts Championship at the last minute last year by winning the PDC Europe Super League. Although the German had a difficult year on the Pro Tour, he flawlessly threw himself through all matches at the German qualifying tournament.

In an interview with Dartsnews.de, Hempel says he entered the oche with a diferrent attitude during the PDC Europe Super League. ''My mentality was better at the end of the year. I was just trying to find my focus during the year. I was looking for form, top performances, my A-game. My B-game had gotten worse. Somehow, I lost matches I played well, but I also lost matches where the opponent played badly because I couldn't play better.''

''I approached matches during Super League differently anyway. The level on the PDC Pro Tour is higher. Then you're on a finish after nine arrows, for example, and then your opponent throws a 12-darter. That normally doesn't happen during the Super League. Of course they are all great players, but Max Hopp, Ricardo Pietreczko and myself were the only Tour Card holders out of the 24 participants. That allowed me to play a bit more relaxed and give the performance I needed at that moment."

The Cologne ace does not have a nickname at the moment. After his final win in the Super League, he called on fans to send in possible nicknames. Hempel hasn't done anything with that yet.

''It seems like in darts you need a nickname, but that doesn't apply to me. There were also one or two ideas that I elaborated on, but I think as Florian Hempel, I'm pretty good with my name. I am happy with it and so far no nickname has come along that I can say I can identify with. It will stay that way for now, the emphasis is on sporting achievements,'' Hempel said.