Max Hopp does not give up dream as a professional player yet: "I was maybe a little too young, it all went too fast"

There are five Germans at the start of this year's World Darts Championship. Max Hopp, however, is not among them.

Hopp attended the World Darts Championship eight times in the past, tentatively last in 2021. In doing so, he managed to reach the third round twice. "It was and is a pleasure and an honor to represent the German flag at international tournaments. I was the figurehead for a very long time and the focus was and sometimes still is very much on me. Looking back, maybe I was a little too young and it all went too fast. From 0 to 180, so to speak," Hopp said to RAR.

The still only 27-year-old Hopp already made his debut at the World Darts Championship at age 16. Yet he could never quite live up to the high expectations. "What was the reason? You always ask yourself afterwards: what was it? There have been a few turning points in my life. An injury, relationship breakups and also an illness (glandular fever). To make a long story short: A lot has happened to me. But I feel a lot of energy again, which I want to put to good use. That's what counts. In sports, as in life, I want to make a difference and achieve something."

Hopp lost his Tour Card two years ago, but has not given up on his dream of making it in the darts world. "I actually remain a professional player. Even if that sometimes seems different, despite workshops and TV appearances as an analyst. At the moment I play second division darts, which is not shown on TV as much. Still, there is a good level of play there too on the Tours in addition to the Pro Tour events. There are a lot of good players competing there almost every week now."

Because of the financial situation, Hopp is considering adding a day job. "There are only a handful of players who have managed to build up a good buffer by darts," he says. "I have no fixed salary, prize money varies, and it is often hard to predict how many workshops and exhibition tournaments I may do. I have to see that I manage everything financially. In a nutshell: darts will always be a part of my life - as a main or side job."