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On Saturday Nico Kurz joins the Darts World Cup.
Before that, Max Hopp is already playing his second match in London's Alexandra Palace.
As in the previous year, the two Germans could make it into the third round in 2020.
But there are two big question marks on the black-red-gold day in London (including live on the DAZN * streaming service).
At Hopp, after his success in the first round, it remains unclear how the form of the German number two is actually going.
The 24-year-old landed a sovereign mandatory win against Gordon Mathers.
Relaxed and focused one lap further: Max Hopp had no problems with Gordon Mathers
Source: Getty Images / Luke Walker
The Australian, however, acted so weakly that the match barely revealed the extent to which Hopp is ready for his next opponent.
"A solid performance, not a brilliant game," said Hopp in an interview with "Sport1".
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He now has to deal with the Englishman Mervyn King, who plays a special role in the Hessen's career.
It was the old hand against whom he entered the second round of the World Cup for the first time six years ago.
It was 3-2 in the end, and Hopp checked 161 points over the bullseye to win.
Similar tricks will be necessary this year against the 54-year-old.
“I have to go a step further against Mervyn King,” says Hopp. “He is in very good shape, last seen three weeks ago at the Players Championship Finals.”
Nico Kurz lacks competitive practice
While the German record participant in his eighth World Cup participation does not quite know where he stands, despite the successful start, the question for Nico Kurz is whether and how the lack of match practice will affect his performance.
Beat James Wilson and Joe Cullen last year: Hesse Nico Kurz
Source: Getty Images / Alex Davidson
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The 23-year-old, who surprised with two wins on his debut last year, suffered even more as an amateur from the corona pandemic.
While the major major tournaments could take place on the professional tour and various competition offers were created for all Tourcard holders in the form of compressed tournament series or online competitions streamed via webcam, the European Tour was almost completely canceled.
“There wasn't that much I could have played.
With the exception of the few tournaments that took place on the European Tour, ”Kurz recalls:“ Otherwise, I trained at home.
A lot alone or with a colleague.
But I usually train at home as well, doing my one or two hours of training.
But of course, I would have liked to have played more. "
If he can repeat the performance he did at the World Cup last year or in June when he defended his title in the Super League, he has a good chance of prevailing against Andy Hamilton, 30 years his senior, and then the German duel on Monday to make perfect against Gabriel Clemens.
In any case, the approach is correct: “I'm really happy.
It's the highlight of the year and, like last year, I watch from game to game. "
That's what Nico Kurz says about his unusual run-in song
The Superleague Germany begins.
Nico Kurz is also at the start.
In an exclusive interview he talks about his unusual run-in song, the search for a nickname and the sport of darts in Germany.
Source: Lutz Wöckener, André Elsner
The games on Saturday
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from 1 p.m.
1 round
Steve Lennon (IRL) - Daniel Larsson (SWE)
Scott Waites (ENG) - Matt Campbell (CAN)
Kim Huybrechts (BEL) - Di Zhuang (CHN)
2nd round
Mervyn King (ENG / 19) - Max Hopp (GER)
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from 19 clock
1 round
Andy Hamilton (ENG) - Nico Kurz (GER)
Andy Boulton (ENG) - Deta Hedman (ENG)
Damon Heta (AUS) - Danny Baggish (USA)
2nd round
Michael van Gerwen (NED / 1) - Ryan Murray (SCO)
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