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Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 11:55 am
by Clownin
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https://www.sportinglife.com/darts/news ... tle/146354

I've always liked Max's tossing action. The Bull-in-izer finally came though playing with the big boys. Gut gespielt!

Max Hopp won his maiden senior PDC title as he claimed an emotional – and equally dramatic - 8-7 victory over Michael Smith in the German Open Darts final.

The 21-year-old favourite also defeated Premier League stars Peter Wright and Rob Cross during his fairytale weekend which also sees him become the first German to win a European Tour title.

Hopp was underdog in his semi-final with world champion Cross but held his nerve to take out 121 on the bullseye to win 7-6 and set up a clash with the on-fire Smith.

Remarkably, he repeated the trick in the deciding leg of a thrilling final to send the 3,000-strong German crowd wild and it was no surprise to see Hopp break down in tears at the trophy ceremony.

Hopp's journey had to start during the home nation qualifiers on Thursday and having battled his way through those he started his campaign with a convincing victory over Zoran Lerchbacher before seeing off defending champion Wright on Saturday.

On the final day he edged past 2017 finalist Benito van de Pas and then Joe Cullen prior to his heroics against Cross and Smith.

The young German looked to be running out of steam as he trailed Bully Boy 3-0 and 6-4 but back-to-back 14-darters saw him level at 6-6.

As pressure mounted, Smith moved to within one leg of the title only for Hopp to force a decider in which he sparked pandemonium in the Saarlandhalle with his 121 finish on the bull.

It was also a dramatic day for Michael van Gerwen, who first had to battle back from 4-1 down to beat Alan Tabern 6-4 but he crashed out in the next round as Ian White crushed him 6-2.

The Englishman, who had earlier whitewashed Dave Chisnall, averaged 105.92 and landed six of his seven double attempts to beat van Gerwen.

White was later thrashed 7-1 in the semi-finals by a rampant Smith, who averaged 107.24 and landed 78% of his doubles.

Bully Boy's route to the final had seen him defeat Jelle Klaasen and Mervyn King while Cross also looked in good shape against Darren Webster and Gerwyn Price before running into the 2015 World Youth Champion.

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 12:10 pm
by The Ginge Reaper
Do we really need a thread for every fucking thought that goes through your head?

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 1:18 pm
by Clownin
The Ginge Reaper wrote:Do we really need a thread for every fucking thought that goes through your head?
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Your "contributions" are always top shelf insightful...keep up the good work Ginge.

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Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:25 pm
by thegentle
To be fair, always thought he got a bit too much stick here, he's always been a precocious talent, can't be easy with the hopes of a nation (and the PDC) on your back. He had a bit of luck to get through the weekend, but he also played very well in patches as well, I guess sometimes you earn your luck. He's also through to most of the majors now so he can play with a bit more freedom now, which is surely a luxury he never thought he'd get!

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:27 pm
by Randall
Can he back it up as the season goes on.
Winning this then vanishing again proves nothing.

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 6:32 pm
by The Thorn
thegentle wrote:To be fair, always thought he got a bit too much stick here, he's always been a precocious talent, can't be easy with the hopes of a nation (and the PDC) on your back. He had a bit of luck to get through the weekend, but he also played very well in patches as well, I guess sometimes you earn your luck. He's also through to most of the majors now so he can play with a bit more freedom now, which is surely a luxury he never thought he'd get!
He got most of the abuse because with the ET events being in Germany, he got many spots in them, and therefore ranking money, for free. Which he couldn't justify as he simply wasn't playing well enough. Another reason being the undeserved PDC hype, for example his inclusion in a WS event.

He's a good lad though and shouldn't be blamed really for either of these.

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 7:26 am
by Greipel
The Ginge Reaper wrote:Do we really need a thread for every fucking thought that goes through your head?
Should I start threads instead of him, mate?

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:07 am
by The Thorn
Greipel wrote:
The Ginge Reaper wrote:Do we really need a thread for every fucking thought that goes through your head?
Should I start threads instead of him, mate?
Nah that would be even worse, mate

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 9:35 pm
by Dreamboy501
I'd like to see more from Hopp before making any further conclusions....

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 6:40 am
by Randall
Dreamboy501 wrote:I'd like to see more from Hopp before making any further conclusions....
One swallow and all that, needs to back it up before his coronation.

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:28 am
by Rogg
How many 21 year-olds have won a PDC event on the big (very) stage? How many 21 year-olds have even played at the World Matchplay? You've barely seen anything like it. Already it looks like some can't wait to dismiss him as a flash in the pan. Some flash at least.

btw remember when Germany won Euro 96 at Wembley... singing Football's Coming Home at the queen. Bastards. :) Hopp hadn't even been born ffs.

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 1:52 pm
by Clownin
Rogg wrote:
btw remember when Germany won Euro 96 at Wembley... singing Football's Coming Home at the queen. Bastards. :) Hopp hadn't even been born ffs.

[youtube][/youtube]

Football's coming home and the best darts player in the world is Dutch. Must be a real kick in the nuts for the British cunts. :mrgreen:

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 4:55 pm
by Greipel
Clownin wrote:
Rogg wrote:
btw remember when Germany won Euro 96 at Wembley... singing Football's Coming Home at the queen. Bastards. :) Hopp hadn't even been born ffs.

[youtube][/youtube]

Football's coming home and the best darts player in the world is Dutch. Must be a real kick in the nuts for the British cunts. :mrgreen:
+1

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 5:22 pm
by Wolflanternbumbag
No he's still immature you moron

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 6:36 pm
by thegentle
Greipel wrote:
Clownin wrote:
Rogg wrote:
btw remember when Germany won Euro 96 at Wembley... singing Football's Coming Home at the queen. Bastards. :) Hopp hadn't even been born ffs.

[youtube][/youtube]

Football's coming home and the best darts player in the world is Dutch. Must be a real kick in the nuts for the British cunts. :mrgreen:
+1
Not nearly as much of a kick in the nuts as losing to Andorra was for the no longer Magical Magyars

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 6:42 pm
by Dreamboy501
Rogg wrote:How many 21 year-olds have won a PDC event on the big (very) stage? How many 21 year-olds have even played at the World Matchplay? You've barely seen anything like it. Already it looks like some can't wait to dismiss him as a flash in the pan. Some flash at least.

btw remember when Germany won Euro 96 at Wembley... singing Football's Coming Home at the queen. Bastards. :) Hopp hadn't even been born ffs.
What I'm saying is that we cannot crown Hopp just because he won a PDC event at 21.... Let's see how will he back it up in Graz this weekend.

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2018 8:38 pm
by Greipel
thegentle wrote:
Greipel wrote:
Clownin wrote:
Rogg wrote:
btw remember when Germany won Euro 96 at Wembley... singing Football's Coming Home at the queen. Bastards. :) Hopp hadn't even been born ffs.

[youtube][/youtube]

Football's coming home and the best darts player in the world is Dutch. Must be a real kick in the nuts for the British cunts. :mrgreen:
+1
Not nearly as much of a kick in the nuts as losing to Andorra was for the no longer Magical Magyars
:lol:

+1

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 4:53 pm
by tungsten tossers
Interview with Max on Burtons weekly dartscast



He comes across pretty mature and well grounded for his age

Re: Has Max Hopp grown up?

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:31 pm
by skweezit
hopp will always be a wunderkind to me.