Staff at the Ambassador’s residence in London were blown away by our story which revealed the Ally Pally world championship is set for an invasion of darts-mad Germans
The Daily Star’s ‘Herr We Throw’ front page hit such a bullseye with the Germans that it is now proudly hanging on the wall of their Embassy.
Staff at the Ambassador’s residence in London were blown away by the story, which revealed the Ally Pally is set for an invasion of darts-mad Germans because interest in the sport has exploded in Deutschland.
They posted a photo of it on the official Embassy X webpage, branding it: “An all-time classic front page from Der Daily Star.”
And they added ‘laughing’ and ‘bullseye’ emojis plus German and British flags. We asked if they would like a specially framed poster for their wall – and delighted staff said: “Ja!”
A Daily Star team was dispatched to the Embassy to hand it over to the head of the Embassy’s press section, Kristin Augsburg.
She said it would take pride of place on the wall and hoped it would bring Germany’s stars ‘viel Glück’ – ‘good luck’ in the tournament.
“It’s great to see Germans and Brits bonding over their shared love of darts,” she said.
“In Britain, you cross your fingers – in Germany, we press our thumbs – and we’re pressing them white-knuckle hard that one day soon a German will triumph at Ally Pally.
“Darts is another UK export that’s booming in Germany. Membership of the German Darts Association has jumped by a staggering 59% in the past year, now topping 31,000.
“The World Championships have turned into a festive TV tradition back home, pulling in ever-growing and seriously impressive viewing figures.”
Kristin handed us a German darts supporters’ kit, complete with sweatbands, floral garlands and mugs, so we can cheer them on too.
Her deputy, Knud Noelle, said: “There’s much excitement about the darts. It’s great they’re putting it in a bigger venue so more of us can come and watch.”
German stars have already staged a mini-invasion of this year’s world darts championship with a record eight players qualifying. Five have already made it through to the second round.
German flight flinger Max Hopp, who beat Martin Lukeman in the opening round, said that when the tournament is moved to the Alexandra Palace’s Great Hall next year to let in more fans, most will be from his homeland.
Max, 29, said the event and its venue have earned ‘cult’ status among Germany’s expanding army of players. He believes opening the doors to bigger crowds will spark a German invasion.
“Ally Pally is always a great venue,” he said.
“Next year we move to a bigger arena as well so the crowd is going to be buzzing. Ally Pally is just a cult – in my country we say it’s a cult.
“Everyone wants to be here. Everyone wants to be up on the stage. It was just massive for me to get up on that stage.”
A record 2.86 million Germans tuned in to watch last year’s final on TV – won by Brit teen sensation Luke Littler.
Telly bosses reckon viewing figures will eclipse that this year. Hopp – nicknamed ‘Maximiser’ – became the poster boy of German darts after winning the world youth championship in 2015.
Three years later, he became the first German to win a Professional Darts Corporation European tour event.
But post-Covid he suffered torn ankle ligaments which hampered his form. He has watched the sport explode in popularity in his homeland while struggling to stay among the elite and had not qualified for the world championship since 2021.
Hopp admitted he felt intense pressure to be a hit because the sport is so popular back home where it has become a potential career.
“Darts was our hobby before it became our job,” he said.
“I think the whole of Germany is still looking for that one guy to really kick on. The main thing is I have the fire back.”
Fans’ website DartsPlanet predicted the sport was braced for a German invasion as it had reached a ‘new stratosphere of popularity’.
“No one does it like the German fans,” it said.
“Just spend a few minutes watching darts broadcasts from venues like Berlin’s Mercedes-Benz Arena and you’ll notice something incredible.
“The electricity of the German crowd can not be gotten anywhere else in the world.
“The costumes are as flashy as they come, the chants are ever so loud and with every triple-20 hit German fans make their adoration for the game known.
“Local clubs and leagues are growing in leaps and bounds, as they do a good job of introducing young players to the sport well before they hit their teens.
“You get that on one hand and pair it with a country that loves efficiency and strategy on the other hand.
“What you get is a fertile breeding ground for darts excellence.”