Max Hopp reaches the Players Championship Finals – and as the last-ranked player. However, two other Germans narrowly miss qualification.
It couldn’t have been closer for darts star Max Hopp! As the 64th and last-ranked player, the “Maximiser” has qualified for the Players Championship Finals in late November in Minehead. The major tournament is considered a dress rehearsal for the World Championship (starting December 11th LIVE on SPORT1 ) in December.
Despite a 0-6 loss against Andrew Gilding at the start of Players Championship 34, his results from previous editions were sufficient for participation.
Max Hopp qualified at the last minute for the Players Championship Finals
Successes from the last four editions were particularly important. Because: Besides Hopp, Englishman Ryan Meikle and German Dominik Grüllich had collected the same prize money (£26,500) across the 34 floor events.
Hopp’s form decides
In case of a tie, the PDC rule states that the prize money from the last four tournaments is added up and the decision is made accordingly. Because Hopp collected more prize money there than his competitors, he made the leap into the top 64.
From a German perspective, overall it went encouragingly. With Ricardo Pietreczko, Gabriel Clemens, and Niko Springer, three more German players qualified for the Players Championship Finals in Wigan. The German number one, Martin Schindler, was already secure before the last edition.
Schindler was also the one who advanced the furthest in Wigan, reaching the round of the last 32. Clemens and Pietreczko were eliminated one round earlier.
Greedy and Little: No Finals, but World Championship
Dominik Grüllich and Lukas Wenig experienced a day of mixed feelings. Both missed qualification for the Finals, but they secured their World Championship debut via the ProTour Order of Merit.
There, the top 40 players who haven’t already secured a World Championship spot via the world rankings qualifying.
Besides Grüllich and Wenig, Springer, Clemens, and Hopp are qualified for the World Championship via the ProTour rankings. Schindler and Pietreczko – as of now – are even seeded at the World Championship as current top-32 players.
Another spot will be awarded via the PDC Europe Super League (November 4-7 LIVE on SPORT1 ). In early November, 24 players from the DACH region will compete for the last chance at a World Championship ticket.
At the Tour Card Holder Qualifier on November 24th, all non-qualified players will have the very last opportunity. Then, Maximilian Czerwinski, Kai Gotthardt, Florian Hempel, Leon Weber, and Tim Wolters could also fulfill their dream of Alexandra Palace.