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Darts World Cup: “Lecko mio” – Max Hopp comments on the threat of losing his tour card live on TV

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“Lecko mio” – Max Hopp comments on the threat of losing his tour ticket live on TV

Screenshot 2021-12-30 at 15:37:08

Happy ending: Mervyn King secured the tour ticket for Max Hopp with his World Cup victory

Source: screenshot

Mervyn King reached the quarterfinals against Raymond Smith. For a long time it looked like a defeat that would have had serious consequences for Max Hopp. The German commented on the match live on DAZN. He has a very special relationship with his savior.

Es didn’t look good for a long time. Outsider Raymond Smith also seemed to be able to win his fourth match at this World Darts Championship. The Australian, who threw Florian Hempel out of the tournament in the third round, threatened not only to be the end of the line for Mervyn King, but also to hurt another German.

Another victory of the “guru” would have put an end to Max Hopp’s professional career for the time being. The 25-year-old Idsteiner would have been overtaken by Smith in the world rankings and would have fallen out of the top 64 after the weakest year of his career, tantamount to the loss of his tour card, which he had previously owned for seven years.

Dart European Darts Trophy 2013

Ambitious talent: the young Max Hopp in 2013

Source: pa / Pressefoto Ba / Julia Rahn

All the more astonishing that the German took his place as an expert at DAZN and commented live on the decisive match for him. “Please check me out if I get a little quiet”, Hopp had asked for understanding at the microphone before starting.

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A little over an hour later, the control room had faded in a second screen. On the right King could be seen trying to hit the double 6 in the decisive seventh set, on the left Hopp was recognizable next to commentator Elmar Paulke.

When King hit the envisaged double field in the third attempt and thus made the 4: 3 perfect, Hopp threw himself into his swivel chair, threw his arms in the air and clapped his fists against each other. “Congratulations on the Tourcard 2022,” said Paulke. “Thank you,” replied Hopp, relieved and directed words in the direction of the winner: “The man can have as much pizza from me as he wants.”

Hopp with a new strategy for 2022

For a long time it hadn’t looked like a happy ending for King and Hopp. The Englishman was 0: 2 and 1: 3 behind and did not find his game. “This sentence is indicative for the further course of the match. King has to stay tuned, ”Hopp had said before the third sentence, possibly referring to himself.

Darts: WM in London

King is King: In the quarter-finals, Mervyn King meets James Wade or Martijn Kleermaker

Source: dpa / Steven Paston

“You just haven’t heard Max take a deep breath,” said Paulke shortly afterwards after the Australian missed a double – both laughed in the studio. Hopp accompanied perhaps the most important hour of his career very professionally, gave training tips and analyzed the match.

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Max Hopp vor World Cup of Darts

Before the fifth sentence, pictures from the 2015 World Cup flickered across the screen. Scenes of the young Hopp, when he had stood against King on the stage of the Ally Pally. Back then, seven years ago, he earned his tour card with a sensational 3-2 win in the first round.

2015 William Hill PDC World Darts Championships - Day Six

The first big win: Max Hopp wins against Mervyn King at the 2015 World Cup

Quelle: Getty Images

Last year, Hopp lost to the “King” in the second round of his last World Cup for the time being. The paths of Hopp and the experienced Englishman had crossed again and again. “I won the tour ticket against King. Now he’s securing it for me, “said Hopp:” Crazy. That’s life, right? “

As the playing time increased, Hopp was allowed to hope more and more. King improved, reduced it to 2: 3 and equalized to 3: 3.

“Lecko mio”, Hopp shouted when King made the decisive break to make it 2-0 in the seventh set. The tension was now noticeable and was released a short time later with King’s third match dart on the double 6.

Hopp, who published his biography last week, is now announcing a new start for the new year – with a tour card. “I want to change my strategy, invest less time in marketing and train more with the Dutch and Gabriel Clemens.”

The complete schedule and the tournament tree can be found here

Darts World Cup, round of 16, results

Gerwyn Price (WAL / 1) – Dirk van Duijvenbode (NED / 17) 4: 1

Jonny Clayton (WAL/8) – Michael Smith (ENG/9) 3:4 n.V.

Raymond Smith (AUS) – Mervyn King (ENG / 21) 3: 4

Alan Soutar (SCO) – Callan Rydz (ENG) 1:4

Chris Dobey (ENG / 30) – Luke Humphries (ENG / 19) 3: 4 nV

8 p.m.

James Wade (ENG/4) – Martijn Kleermaker (NED)

Gary Anderson (SCO/6) – Rob Cross (ENG/11)

Peter Wright (SCO/2) – Ryan Searle (ENG/15)

Darts World Cup, quarter-finals, January 1st

1.30 p.m.

Quarter Finals 1

Quarter Finals 2

8 p.m.

Quarter Finals 3

Quarter-finals 4

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