"His timing is absolutely breathtaking" - Gabriel Clemens full of praise for German Darts new star Niko Springer

Niko Springer has been the talk of the darts scene for weeks. With strong performances on the European Tour, the Siefersheim native has caught the eye not only through his results but also with clear technical progress in his game.

On the podcast Darts auf die #1, Gabriel Clemens, Robert Marijanovic and Marcel Althaus devoted detailed attention to the 25-year-old – painting the picture of a player who has become far more than just a promising talent.

What stands out most to Robert Marijanovic is the change in Springer’s throw: “At the start of his career, he used to stretch his left arm completely away from his body – that creates restlessness and instability. Suddenly, he’s keeping the arm tight to his body and scoring like crazy.”

For Marijanovic, that adjustment has been one of the decisive steps in raising Springer to the level of a world-class player. Marcel Althaus backs that up, recalling his own early encounters with Springer: “In 2020 in Hildesheim, he still had that left arm stretched out. You almost needed extra space on the oche for him. Now it’s still a very active throw, but so consistent and precise that it’s clearly the right technique for him.”

The fact that even his brother Felix has developed an almost identical style is, for Althaus, a humorous footnote – but also proof of how deeply Springer has now internalised his throwing motion.

Marcel Althaus also recognizes this development. He remembers the first encounters with Springer well. "In 2020, during a tournament in Hildesheim, you almost literally had to make room for him at the oche, because he stuck his arm out so far. Nowadays you can still see that there is a lot of movement in his throw, but it is so constant and precise that it actually makes him stronger."

For Gabriel Clemens, technique is only one part of the package. The “German Giant” is especially impressed by Springer’s mental strength: “His timing in Budapest was absolutely breathtaking. Even in matches where his average was a little lower, he still managed to win with real authority.”

Experts have long rated the Meenzer Bub as a huge prospect. “David Schlichting and I said back in 2023: a Niko Springer with the right mindset is guaranteed to be a top-16 player,” Althaus recalls. His recent performances have strongly reinforced that prediction.

Springer is also notable for the way he has made clear decisions off the oche. “He’s done everything right so far,” says Marijanovic.

From the outset, Springer was determined to finish his education before tackling Q-School seriously. Later he moved to part-time work, and now his focus is fully on darts. “That kind of discipline shows he’s ready not just on the board but in his head too,” Marijanovic stresses.

Another key weapon, according to the podcast panel, is Springer’s much-discussed “first dart.”

It’s that reliability on the board that makes Springer so dangerous: so often he opens legs with big scores that put opponents under immediate pressure.

That, especially in legs where he takes the lead. The ability to open with high scores is not only a matter of making points, but also of psychological superiority - something he has shown time and again in recent months.

The highlight so far is, of course, his title at the Hungarian Darts Trophy 2025. For many outsiders, this was a surprise, but those in the know see it only as a logical consequence of his steady development.

His latest tournament victory may stand as a milestone for now, but as the podcast discussion highlighted, the real story isn’t the silverware. It’s the steady, deliberate development behind it.

A player who has refined his throw over years, matured mentally, and pursued his career path with discipline and focus – that is what makes Niko Springer far more than just a surprise champion.