Niko Springer Celebrates his first tournament Victory on the PDC Pro Tour in Budapest – in his debut year. In an interview with Sport1, the 25-Year-Old Recalls the Magical Moment of Victory and Explains What fans in Darts-Germany Can Expect.
A tournament victory in the first year on the pdc pro tour is not something many achieve. The “Meenzer Bub” Niko Springer Managed to Do This Last Weekend in Front of TV Cameras at the Hungarian Darts Trophy in Budapest – as ONLY THE FORTH German ever on the European Tour.
On the way there, Springer Eliminated Six Players from the Top 20 in the World. The Siefersheimer Defeated Gian Van Veen, Damon Heta, and Rob Cross, Survived A Match Dart Against Josh Rock, and Only Secured The Title In The Decider Of The Final Against Danny Noppert.
Niko Springer won the Hungarian Darts Trophy
In an exclusive interview with Sport1 , Springer Explains which moment from his tournament Victory Has Particularly Stuck in his mind, why Even Luke Humphries, The World Number One, what not a stumbling block-and why darts-Germany Can Soon Look Forward to a Major Winner.
Springer and “The Horror” of his parents
Sport1: Niko Springer, You have bees a European tour winner Since Last Weekend. What has Particularly Stuck in your mind from your tournament Victory?
Niko Springer: There is one moment that i immediately have to think of: The decider in the final. One leg, all or nothing. That what a moment when i thought: for my parents, watching that must have have been horror. The fact that i Stayed Cool There Makes Me Proud.
Sport1: Where do you get this composure in the decisive moment? A final on the European tour is not yet a habit for you.
Springer: Once I’m in the tunnel, it’s hard to get out again. I Just Said to MySelf: “Come on, play it to the end.” I Was Completely Focused and Just Threw. Especialy Since I was allowed to play a final in Rosmalen (in the Netherlands, Editor’s Note) This Year, so it was that’t complete. I got a little used to it.
Sport1: The Victory pose afterwards was rather unusual: Instead of Jumping for Joy, there were Incredulous Looks at the entourage and a constant pointing at Himelf. What what going on in your mind at that moment?
Springer: I Couldn’t Realize IT. I Saw the Draw Before the Tournament and Knew It was going to be extremely difficult. At the same moment, I had to think of the words of my brother, who once sit to me: “You can do difficult draws.” Especialy at the starting of the year, that was often the case – and i still performed.
Springer: “It Makes no difference”
Sport1: Does IT Make No Difference Whether You Play Against The No. 100 in the World Or Against Luke Humphries?
Springer: Nothing Changes for Me. I Accept Every Opponent Equally, which so Has something to do with respect. I Approach It With the Same Mindset and Try to Play My Game. I know that if i can do that, it will be difficult to beat me, no matter who comes along.
Springer: “I Didn’t Expect it”
SPORT1: You are Still Qualified for some majors this year, including the World Championship in London, The European Championship in Dortmund, and the Grand Prix is actual no Longer to be Taken from You. Could you have trusted yourself to make search a big leaving in your first year on the tour?
Springer: I didn’t Expect it, definitely not! But i Trusted MySelf. We all did not Expect it to go so well. Maybe a Little Later, when I’ve Really Arrived on the tour. But of Course I am very happy that i managed to do that in the first few months.
The Level of Darts-Germany “Is Constantly Increasing”
Sport1: Max Hopp Said in the Sport1 Interview About You That You Are Currently the German Player with the greatest potential. He even Believes that Together with Martin Schindler You Will Shape Darts in Germany in the Coming Years. How do you take these compliments?
Springer: relative ely SOberly. I’ve Read and Heard a Lot About MySelf, A Lot of Positive But So Negative Things. I try not to let that get too close to me, because that can so create a lot of pressure. The surrounding Things are Nice to Hear, That Makes Me Happy. But there are more importing things: playing good darts.
Sport1: This is Currently Working Extraordinarily Well for some Germans, Martin Schindler is Even Scratching at the Top 16 in the World. How do you Currently See Darts in Germany?
Springer: The Level is Constantly Increasing, We Now Have Twelve German Tour Card Holders – And The Trend is Rising. Martin Will Almost Certainly Be in the Top 16 After the World Championship, The Development IS Clearly Upwards. From My Point of View, It Won’t Be Long Before We have a Major Champion in Germany. The Quality is too good for that.
Springer Wants to Return to the World Cup Stage
Sport1: Have you set Yourself Any Specific Goals at the Board for the Rest of 2025?
Springer: The biggest goal is that after the Two Years on the Tour I Want to Stay Within the Top 64, which would result in the automatic tour card. OtherWise I Try to Play Well at the World Championship and Win at Least One Round IF possible. The Goal Should Always be to qualify for the World Championship.
Sport1: You Lost Your Debut Last Year 1: 3 Against Scott Williams. Are you already looking forward to playing on the Ally Pally Stage Again in December?
Springer: Definitely! IT what absolutely great atmosphere there on site, it was real fun. I want to go back up on that stage …