Max Hopp had set himself a modest target: defend the prize money he earned by reaching the second round in 2016 and 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 at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund and, at times, even his opponents. Had he converted one of his three match darts, his career might have taken a very different course.
Hopp entered the tournament full of confidence, having stunned everyone a few months earlier by winning the German Darts Open. His campaign began amid controversy against William O'Connor in the first round. The then 22-year-old broke throw in the second leg and moved 3-0 ahead, while O'Connor battled not only his German opponent but also Hopp's supporters, who repeatedly whistled or booed as the Irishman threw. O'Connor kept engaging with the crowd, miming after two darts in treble 20 that he could not hear the whistles. At 3-1, Hopp checked double 2 and turned triumphantly towards O'Connor, who evidently did not appreciate the celebration and muttered a few words. Hopp eventually sealed a 6-1 win with an 82 checkout on tops and an average just above 90 — his second appearance in the tournament's last 16.
James Wilson awaited in the last 16. The Englishman, the BDO's former number one and a PDC Tour competitor since 2015, had comfortably beaten Jonny Clayton in his opening match and hit six 180s, more than anyone else that day — a tally he matched against the German. The match was cautious, both players holding throw to 4-4, before Hopp squeezed his third dart into the lower-left corner of double 10 for the first break. Wilson broke straight back with a 66 checkout, and the next four legs went with throw. Then, with 80 remaining, Wilson missed the chance to hit tops and take the lead, and Hopp landed his first break dart on double 20 to lead 8-7, roaring his emotions into the crowd. A leg later, Hopp needed 156: treble 20, treble 20, a pause of several seconds to focus, then double 18 for 9-7. Wilson had no answer in leg 17, and Hopp sealed the first-ever German place in a major quarter-final by taking out 48 on double 16.
Darren Webster was Hopp's quarter-final opponent, and the contest became a festival of high finishes. Hopp checked out 126 in the second leg, Webster took out 120 to level at 2-2, Hopp went 3-2 up with a 164 checkout, and 'The Demolition Man' levelled at 4-4 with a 138 finish before the pair went into the break locked at 5-5. During the short commercial break, Hopp swapped the black flights that had framed his face for three plain red ones, later saying he had not felt comfortable on stage early in the match. The change seemed to work — the 'Maximiser' did not drop a single leg after the break, and a perfect set-up shot at 9-5 gave him three match darts. He needed only one, hitting double 8 to reach the semi-finals.
In the semi-finals, Hopp faced world number nine James Wade, who had already beaten Martin Schindler, Ricky Evans and Gerwyn Price and was aiming for his first major final of the season. Wade was one of Hopp's toughest opponents — to this day, the player from Idstein has never won a match against the Englishman. The first three legs all went against the throw before Hopp held for 3-1, and he won four legs in a row before the break to move 7-3 ahead with a finish on double 16. The world number 35 produced his best performance of the tournament when he needed it most, hitting five 180s and finishing on around 50% of his doubles. He led 9-5 before Wade fought back with his favourite doubles, double 20 and double 10, even cutting the deficit to 8-9 with a 106 checkout. Hopp then won his tenth leg and came to the oche needing 40 for a place in the final: single 20, single 10, double 5. This time he had not stepped back before throwing his decisive darts, and Wade punished him ruthlessly, taking out 61 in two darts and sealing the deciding leg with a 102 checkout via double 20.
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 — and to this day, no German player has reached a major final.
