“The sense of security is gone – but I’m all in” - Niko Springer quits job in bid live up to immense darting potential

Rising German star Niko Springer has announced that he will be turning full-time professional from August, marking a significant milestone in his young career on the PDC circuit.

Speaking on the Tops Tops Tops podcast, hosted by Adrian Geiler, Fabian Dippold and Max Meintz, the 24-year-old revealed his decision to leave his part-time job behind in order to fully focus on life as a darts professional. “From August, things will change,” Springer said. “I won’t be working anymore.”

Springer is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in the sport, and his recent performances have done little to dispute that. He made headlines earlier this year with a sensational run to the final of the Dutch Darts Championship, eventually losing out 8–6 to Welsh star Jonny Clayton in a high-quality showdown. That performance came on the back of a standout 2024 Development Tour campaign, which earned him a coveted two-year PDC Tour Card.

Since then, he’s been turning heads on the senior circuit — and now he’s taking the next logical step.

Springer has long been tipped for success, but his path to the top hasn’t followed the most conventional route. Rather than immediately committing to the professional game, he chose to complete his university studies first — a decision that earned both praise and criticism within darts circles. “I usually prefer to play it safe,” he admitted. “My education was always the priority.”

Until now, Springer had been juggling life on tour with part-time work in the public sector. In January, he formally stepped away from his civil servant status to take on a more flexible role — but even that proved difficult to maintain alongside the demands of the professional darts calendar. “When I have a weekend like Rosmalen, I get home around half past three in the morning, and then I’m up again at seven for work — plus a one-hour commute. Over time, it just drains you.”

Despite receiving strong support from his employer and colleagues, the growing physical and mental toll made the decision inevitable. “I enjoyed my job and I did it well, so this wasn’t easy. But I’ve decided that this chapter will close — at least for now — in August.”

Crucially, Springer has left the door open for a potential return to his previous career if needed. “That sense of security is going away for the moment, but I’ve got the option to go back at any time, no strings attached.”

Now, with no distractions and a clear path ahead, Springer is ready to throw himself fully into the professional game. His decision to go all-in is seen by many as the next key step in his development, as he looks to establish himself among the sport’s elite.

Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how far he can go — and whether this bold career move will pay off in the long term. One thing is certain: the darting world hasn’t heard the last of Niko Springer.