Niko Springer
| Niko Springer | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Niko Springer | |||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Nickname | "Meenzer Bub" | ||||
| Born | 11 July 2000[1][2] Mainz, Germany | ||||
| Home town | Siefersheim, Germany | ||||
| Darts information | |||||
| Playing darts since | 2019 | ||||
| Darts | One80 Niko Springer 22g | ||||
| Laterality | Right-handed | ||||
| Walk-on music | "Legendary" by Welshly Arms | ||||
| Organisation (see split in darts) | |||||
| PDC | 2019– (Tour Card 2025–) | ||||
| Current world ranking | NR (12 January 2025)[3] | ||||
| PDC premier events – best performances | |||||
| World Ch'ship | Last 96: 2025 | ||||
| UK Open | Last 160: 2022 | ||||
| Other tournament wins | |||||
| |||||
Niko Springer (born 11 July 2000) is a German darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He has won 3 titles on both the PDC Development Tour and PDC Europe Next Gen.
Career
[edit]Springer first took part in PDC Qualifying School (Q-School) in 2021, where he reached the final stage of European Q-School but was unable to obtain a PDC Tour Card.[4] Due to his performances at Q-School, Springer received a wildcard for the 2021 PDC Europe Super League, where he was eliminated in the quarter-finals by the eventual tournament winner Martin Schindler.[5]
During the 2021 PDC European Development Tour series, Springer made two finals, losing to Rusty-Jake Rodriguez on both occasions.[6][7] His Development Tour ranking saw him qualify for the 2021 PDC World Youth Championship and the 2022 UK Open. Springer also reached his first PDC Challenge Tour final in 2021, losing 5–1 to José Justicia in Event 7.
In 2022, Springer qualified for his first two PDC European Tour events as a Host Nation Qualifier. At his debut tournament, the 2022 International Darts Open, Springer made the third round following wins over Jermaine Wattimena and Brendan Dolan, before losing 6–2 to Peter Wright.[8] At the 2022 German Darts Championship, he lost 6–2 to Darius Labanauskas in the first round. Springer made the final of the 2022 PDC Europe Super League but lost the final 10–8 to Florian Hempel, missing out on qualification for the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship.[9]
At the 2023 International Darts Open, Springer defeated Scott Williams in the first round before defeating Dimitri van den Bergh 6–1 in the second round.[10] He lost in the third round to Damon Heta.
At the 2023 PDC Europe Super League, Springer achieved a nine-dart finish in a group stage match with Manfred Bilderl, notable for Springer achieving the perfect leg before Bilderl had the opportunity to complete his own nine-dart finish.[11]
During the 2024 PDC Development Tour series, Springer won his first three Development Tour titles, securing his third win in Event 20 against German compatriot Leon Weber.[12] He finished second on the 2024 Development Tour final ranking, earning him a debut at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship and a PDC Tour Card for the next two years.[13][14] He also won three titles on the newly established 2024 PDC Europe Next Gen series, where he hit a double-in double-out nine-dart finish in Event 4.[15]
At the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, Springer played 2024 semi-finalist Scott Williams in the first round. Springer won the first set 3–0 but lost the match 3–1 in sets.[16]
World Championship results
[edit]PDC
[edit]- 2025: First round (lost to Scott Williams 1–3)
Performance timeline
[edit]| Tournament | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PDC Ranked televised events | |||||
| World Championship | DNQ | 1R | |||
| UK Open | DNQ | 1R | DNQ | ||
| PDC Non-ranked televised events | |||||
| World Youth Championship | RR | 2R | DNP | 3R | |
| Career statistics | |||||
| Year-end ranking (PDC) | - | 167 | 167 | ||
PDC European Tour
| Season | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | IDO 3R |
GDC 1R |
GDG DNQ |
ADO DNP |
EDO DNP |
CDO DNP |
EDG DNP |
DDC DNP |
EDM DNP |
HDT DNP |
GDO DNP |
BDO DNP |
GDT DNP |
| 2023 | BSD 2R |
EDO DNQ |
IDO 3R |
GDG DNQ |
ADO DNP |
DDC DNP |
BDO DNP |
CDO DNP |
EDG DNQ |
EDM DNQ |
GDO DNQ |
HDT DNP |
GDC DNQ |
| 2024 | BDO DNP |
GDG DNQ |
IDO DNQ |
EDG 1R |
ADO DNP |
BSD DNQ |
DDC DNP |
EDO DNQ |
GDC 1R |
FDT DNP |
HDT DNP |
SDT DNP |
CDO DNP |
| Performance Table Legend | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | Won the tournament | F | Finalist | SF | Semifinalist | QF | Quarterfinalist | #R RR Prel. |
Lost in # round Round-robin Preliminary round |
DQ | Disqualified |
| DNQ | Did not qualify | DNP | Did not participate | WD | Withdrew | NH | Tournament not held | NYF | Not yet founded | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Niko Springer - Mastercaller.com". Mastercaller.
- ^ dartn.de, Patrick Exner. "Dart Profis - Niko Springer". Dartn.de.
- ^ "PDC Order of Merit". PDPA. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ^ Phillips, Josh (10 February 2021). "Sherrock & Painter through on final day of Q Schools Stage 1A". PDC. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Haag, Benjamin (21 April 2021). "WM-Qualifikation: Aus für Springer und Gerdon" [World Championship qualification: Springer and Gerdon out] (in German). Die Rheinpfalz. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ "Development Tour double for Rodriguez, titles too for Brooks & Rafferty". PDC. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Allen, Dave (6 November 2021). "Rodriguez seals European Development Tour success as German talent wins". PDC. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Gill, Samuel (27 February 2022). "Wright ends run of home hero Springer, set to face Smith in last confirmed Quarter-Final at International Darts Open". Dartsnews.com. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ "Darts: Florian Hempel sichert sich WM-Ticket - und klärt über Zoff mit Springer auf" [Darts: Florian Hempel secures his World Championship ticket - and clears up the trouble with Springer] (in German). Sport1. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ Gill, Samuel (1 April 2023). "Springer springs shock with Van den Bergh thrashing, Clayton fights back to down Raman at International Darts Open". Dartsnews.com. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Gorton, Josh (7 November 2023). "Sensational Springer lands nine-darter to open 2023 PDC Europe Super League". PDC. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Gorton, Josh (28 July 2024). "Super Springer wins third Development Tour title of 2024". PDC. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Wibbeke, Marvin (15 October 2024). "WM-Quali und Tourkarte für Dartsspieler Niko Springer" [World Championship qualification and Tour Card for darts player Niko Springer] (in German). Rheinische Post. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ "Darts: Deutsche Premiere bei der WM" [Darts: German debut at the World Championship] (in German). Sport1. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Gill, Samuel (3 March 2024). "Niko Springer throws nine-dart finish in double-in double-out format at PDC Next Gen tournament". Dartsnews.com. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
- ^ Wöckener, Lutz (20 December 2024). "Niko Springer verliert Spektakel, hinterlegt aber seine Visitenkarte im Ally Pally" [Niko Springer loses the spectacle, but deposits his business card at Ally Pally] (in German). Welt. Retrieved 24 December 2024.