Max Hopp had set himself a modest target: defend the prize money he earned by reaching the second round in 2016. He aimed to win just one match at the 2018 European Championship. Things turned out very differently. Hopp produced the best major performance of his career, thrilling the home crowd and, at times, even his opponents.

Had Max Hopp converted one of his three match darts, his career might have taken a very different course. Dartsnews.de looks back at the 2018 European Championship.

A heated opening match

Max Hopp entered the 2018 European Championship full of confidence. Just a few months earlier, the “Maximiser” had stunned everyone by winning the German Darts Open, securing his place at the major in Dortmund with ease.

Max Hopp produced the tournament of his life at the 2018 European Championship.

His campaign began amid controversy. The then 22-year-old faced William O’Connor in the first round. Hopp took an early lead, broke throw in the second leg and moved 3–0 ahead. O’Connor was battling not only his German opponent, but also Hopp’s supporters. The crowd at the Westfalenhalle repeatedly whistled or booed as the Irishman threw at the board. O’Connor, in turn, kept engaging with the crowd. After putting two darts in treble 20, for example, “The Magpie” turned around and mimed that he could not hear the whistles.

A lively exchange developed between O’Connor and the darts fans, who clearly enjoyed the provocations. The atmosphere on stage grew increasingly hostile as the match went on. At 3–1, Hopp checked double 2 to win another leg, then turned triumphantly towards O’Connor. The then world number 51 evidently did not appreciate the celebration and muttered a few words to Hopp.

On the sporting side, it was neither a close nor a high-quality contest. Hopp eventually sealed a 6–1 win with an 82 checkout on tops and an average just above 90. It was his second appearance in the tournament’s last 16.

A nervy second-round battle

James Wilson was his opponent in the last 16. The Englishman had been the BDO’s former number one and had been competing on the PDC Tour since 2015. He had comfortably beaten Jonny Clayton in his opening match and hit six 180s, more than anyone else that day. He matched that tally against the German. The match began cautiously, with both players holding throw repeatedly, until the score reached 4–4. Hopp then squeezed his third dart into the lower-left corner of double 10 to claim the match’s first break. It did not last long: the 22-year-old German scored poorly in the next leg, allowing Wilson to break straight back with a 66 checkout.

The next four legs all went with throw. Then “Jammy Dodger” made a costly mistake. With 80 remaining, Wilson missed the chance to hit tops and take the lead. Hopp did better, landing his first break dart on double 20.

Hopp led 8–7. The pressure had shifted. After checking out, he turned towards his supporters and roared his emotions into the crowd.

James Wilson faced Hopp in the second round.

A leg later, Hopp all but settled the match. Once again, the “Maximiser” did not score heavily enough after breaking throw. Wilson waited on 38 to level the score. Hopp needed to take out 156 to put the match beyond reach: treble 20, treble 20, pause. He stepped back and spent several seconds trying to focus.

A quarter of a minute later, he returned to the oche and hit double 18.

Hopp led 9–7. Germany’s number one celebrated loudly once more.

That proved too much for Wilson. He had no answer to the Dortmund crowd’s excitement in leg 17, and Hopp sealed the first-ever German place in a major quarter-final by taking out 48 on double 16.

Red flights and a festival of high finishes

Darren Webster was Hopp’s quarter-final opponent. As in his previous matches, the opening stages were closely contested. Hopp checked out 126 in the second leg to consolidate the break he had made in the opener. Webster also produced a big checkout, taking out 120 to bring the match level at 2–2. The contest became a festival of high finishes.

Hopp took a 3–2 lead with a 164 checkout. “The Demolition Man” levelled at 4–4 with a 138 finish. Neither player could pull clear, and they went into the break locked at 5–5.

During the short commercial break, Hopp changed his flights. He later said he had not felt comfortable on stage early in the match and thought the change might help. He swapped the black flights that had framed his face for three plain red ones. The change seemed to work. The “Maximiser” did not drop a single leg after the break.

A perfect set-up shot at 9–5 gave him three match darts. Hopp needed only one, hitting double 8 to reach the semi-finals.

Three match darts away from the final

In the semi-finals, Hopp faced world number nine James Wade. “The Machine” had already beaten Martin Schindler, Ricky Evans and Gerwyn Price during the tournament, and was aiming to reach his first major final of the season.

Wade was one of Hopp’s toughest opponents. To this day, the player from Idstein had never won a match against the Englishman.

James Wade was visibly relieved after his 11–10 win over Max Hopp.

The match began nervously, with both players feeling the pressure. The first three legs all went against the throw. Hopp was the first to hold his throw and took a 3–1 lead. As the match progressed, his confidence grew. He won four legs in a row before the break, moving 7–3 ahead with a finish on double 16.

Hopp continued to dictate the match. The world number 35 produced his best performance of the tournament when he needed it most. He hit five 180s and finished on around 50% of his doubles throughout the match. He led 9–5 before Wade launched his comeback. The 35-year-old fought his way back into the contest by finding his favourite doubles, double 20 and double 10. He even cut the deficit to 8–9 with a 106 checkout.

Hopp then won his tenth leg and moved within one checkout of a place in the European Championship final. Everything was in place for the greatest achievement in German darts history as he came to the oche for his final throw. Hopp needed 40 to finish. Given his strong doubling throughout the match, it looked straightforward: single 20, single 10, double 5.

Hopp had missed his chance. This time, he had not stepped back before throwing his decisive darts. James Wade punished him ruthlessly. He took out 61 in two darts, then sealed the deciding leg with a 102 checkout via double 20.

Max Hopp was out, and James Wade was through to the final.

That brought Germany’s 2018 autumn fairytale to an end in the semi-finals. Max Hopp collected £20,000 but missed out on an early move into the world rankings’ top 32.

Had he taken one of his three match darts, his career might have taken a different turn. To this day, no German player has reached a major final.