Thursday 25 June 2020 17:46, UK
Darts in Germany is clearly on the rise.
The country is becoming an increasingly-popular stop-off for PDC events. Berlin joined the Premier League circuit from 2018, the World Cup is frequently held in Hamburg and Frankfurt, while there are often Euro Tour and World Series events staged in the country.
The popularity of the sport is clear; thousands of Germans make the annual pilgrimage to Alexandra Palace.
But so far no German player has made a significant breakthrough at the very top level by winning a PDC major.
Max Hopp, Martin Schindler and Gabriel Clemens are among those who have made a splash in recent years. And another rising star is Nico Kurz. The 23-year-old last week sealed his spot at the 2021 World Championship, as he looks to build on his two wins at Ally Pally in the 2020 event.
"It's massive for me to be heading back to Ally Pally, the fairytale goes on," Kurz said to the PDC, after he beat Dragutin Horvat 10-9 in the final of the German Darts Super League.
"Last year was an incredible experience at Ally Pally, especially for someone who isn't a 'full-time pro' yet.
"Playing the best players in the world on the biggest stage in the world was very special, something I will always remember.
"Long-term, I'm not in a rush to win my Tour Card yet. I hope to qualify for more European Tour events once we get back playing to gain more experience in front of crowds."
Kurz is confident German darts is on an upward trajectory.
"Being around players like Max [Hopp], Gaga (Gabriel Clemens) and Robbie (Robert Marijanovic) has made the start to my darts career really enjoyable, they are great examples to follow," he said.
"I definitely believe that there will be a German world champion one day.
"German players have shown they can challenge the top 10 players in the world on occasions, though not regularly or consistently enough so far.
"If some of us can find consistency then it's well possible for there to be a German world champion, we've definitely got enough talent in German darts, so I think it will happen one day."
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