"I know I can beat anyone" - Kai Gotthardt approaches World Darts Championship with confidence

Kai Gotthardt managed to win the Europe Super League for the first time in his career on Friday evening. He defeated Paul Krohne 8-7 in the final and will now represent Germany at the PDC World Darts Championship alongside Martin Schindler, Gabriel Clemens, Ricardo Pietreczko, Florian Hempel and Niko Springer.

In his final match against Krohne, The Tunnel fell behind 2-4 after initially leading 2-0. Gotthardt only managed a comeback at 3-5. He equalized at 5-5 before taking the lead again with a leg in 17 darts, which he maintained until the end of the match.

In the round of 16, the quarter-finals and the semi-finals, his matches also went all the way to the decider, where he showed the necessary nerves of steel. In an interview after the final, Gotthardt admitted that he had not had this strength in recent years and continued: "But I have improved through the year, through my performances. I believed in myself and that's what got me to what I've achieved today. That's the main thing. It worked today, even if it was four deciders. I was strong, that's the main thing."

Gotthardt qualified for the Europe Super League via the NEXT GEN Order of Merit and in his interview was full of praise for the PDC Europe, which created and organizes this circuit. "It's simply amazing what the PDC Europe does. That we have the opportunity to qualify for the World Championship outside of the Pro Tour and everything. Thanks to the NEXT GEN, every player simply has the opportunity to get in. It was a tough battle to even qualify for the Super League. It's just such a big thing from the PDC Europe. You can only say 'thank you' that we have the opportunity at all."

It was recently announced by the PDC Europe that from 2025 there will no longer be any free tickets for the Europe Super League as was the case this year. From 2025, all starting places will be allocated via the NEXT GEN without exception. 20 starting places will be awarded via the NEXT GEN Order of Merit and 4 via the NEXT GEN Youth Order of Merit.

"Next, everyone in the NEXT GEN has to get involved," Gotthardt said, picking up on this change. "It's the biggest chance for everyone. Anyone can be here next year, anyone can be here in my place and go all the way to the Ally Pally. Just come and play the NEXT GEN. This is the biggest chance you've got."

The Tunnel is now determined to make the most of his chance to play in the World Darts Championship. "I'll give it my all there. I know I don't mind the crowd. I can play in front of the crowd. I'm just going to enjoy it and I know I can beat anyone. I will do my best for Darts Germany. The best thing is that I have the chance to go there and we'll see what comes out."