"I truly believe I haven’t reached my full potential yet" - Max Hopp targeting return to PDC World Darts Championship in 2026

After a two-year absence, Max Hopp returned to the PDC Pro Tour at the start of this year. Still only 28 years old, the German made his PDC debut over a decade ago and was once seen as a major talent. Now, he’s determined to finally live up to that potential.

Last week, Hopp worked as a pundit for German television during the Premier League Darts night in Berlin. “I got the chance to play once as a 'contender' back in 2019, but I lost convincingly to Raymond van Barneveld,” Hopp told Sportnieuws.nl. “It might take a while before we see a German player in the Premier League Darts, but I think Niko Springer has the best chance. He’s the biggest talent in Germany right now.”

Hopp regained his PDC Tour Card at Q-School earlier this year, securing his place on the tour for the next two years. “I’m happy with how the first few months have gone since my return—it’s going really well. But I know I need to give myself time to fully settle back in. The motivation is definitely there, but it might take a while before I hit top form again. I’m patient.”

“Halfway through last year, I realised I wanted to return to the Pro Tour,” Hopp continued. “I qualified for a Euro Tour event, and with my very first three darts against José de Sousa, I hit a 180. The little hair I have left was standing on end! Speaking of which, maybe I should ask Danny Noppert or Raymond van Barneveld for advice on a good hair clinic,” he added with a laugh.

Once considered a major prospect, Hopp slid down the world rankings over time and eventually lost his Tour Card two years ago. “There were a lot of reasons for that,” he said. “Things don’t always go the way you want. I had a shoulder injury, and glandular fever (Pfeiffer’s disease) really drained my energy.”

“I’m living an even healthier lifestyle now and feel full of energy again,” Hopp continued. “I want to see how far I can go, and I truly believe I haven’t reached my full potential yet. I’m also continuing to do media work—I really enjoy that. My main goal for this year is to qualify for the World Darts Championship.”