Darts: Hopp is still – defending champion van Gerwen is out! – More sports

European darts championship 2018: provocations in Dortmund

The best German professional darts, Max Hopp, reached the round of 16 at the European Championships in Dortmund. Hesse, 22, has clearly won Friday afternoon with a score of 6: 1 against Irishman William O'Connor and is therefore in the round of 16 best.

In the round of 16: Max Hopp.

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There, Hopp meets Saturday night on Englishman James Wilson, who had won his opening match against Jonny Clayton 6-2. The second German participant, Martin Schindler, however, failed his first hurdle. He lost 3-0 to ninth runner-up James Wade.

In front of more than 3,000 spectators at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, "The Maximiser", as Hopp says, took advantage of his chances from the start to start with a finish of 158 points. His opponent O 'Connor, who was booed from the start, repeatedly applauded in front of the audience, provoking several times with sarcastic gestures.

Two years ago, Hopp was the last German to win the European Dart Championship. Although he missed a few doubles, but eventually gained sovereignty. "From the beginning, a lot of pressure has fallen off my shoulders, so I thought: Man, today, you are delivering on stage," said Idsteiner.

The previous favorite had already been eliminated, the favorite of Mensur Suljovic. The Austrian lost 3: 6 against Spaniard Cristo Reyes.

Off for reigning champion van Gerwen

Defending champion Michael van Gerwen was sensitively eliminated in the round of 16 at the Dartboard European Championship in Dortmund. The 29-year-old Dutchman lost Friday night at Westfalenhalle with a time of 7:10 against Englishman Steve West. "Mighty Mike" ran behind the rest of the season and could not improve in the finals. West used his second Matchdart to defeat the primus of the dart scene for the first time. Van Gerwen had won the European Championships four times in a row and had to accept his first loss to the European Championships since 2013 in Dortmund.

With the fifth title, the Dutchman could have become the only record holder of the event. He is therefore tied with Phil Taylor, who has also become four-time champion of Europe. Before van Gerwen, Peter Wright had already retired in the late evening and the Austrian Mensur Suljovic in the afternoon. The German Max Hopp reached the round of 16, which will be played Saturday night (from 20:00 / DAZN).

dpa