Max Hopp Darts – "The Maximiser" Bull's Darts at Diplomatgames

Max Hopp is one of the most important pioneers of modern German darts. Long before Gabriel Clemens, Martin Schindler or Ricardo Pietreczko regularly played major PDC tournaments, the Hessian attracted international attention. The "Maximiser" debuted in the PDC as early as 2012 and won the PDC World Youth Championship in 2015. He celebrated his greatest career success in 2018 at the German Darts Open, when he defeated Rob Cross and Peter Wright, among others, in front of a German audience and beat Michael Smith 8-7 in the final. Hopp thus became the first German to win a PDC European Tour tournament.

2018 was not a one-off outlier. A few months later, Hopp also won Players Championship 19, defeating Madars Razma 6-3 in the final. This gave the Maximiser two PDC ranking titles in one season, making him the most successful German PDC player at the time.

However, after injury problems and the loss of his Tour Card at the end of 2022, a much more difficult chapter of his career began. Hopp initially failed several times at Q-School and was at times more frequently seen as a TV expert than as a player on the big stages. In January 2025, he finally made his comeback: He re-earned a PDC Tour Card and thus returned to the professional ProTour.

When it comes to equipment, the connection is clear today: Max Hopp plays Bull's Darts. The current Bull's Max Hopp series includes the Max Hopp 90% E5, a model developed together with Hopp made of 90% tungsten, which is available in 22, 23, 24 and 25 grams. His personal setup is often based around 23 grams.

At Diplomatgames you will find Max Hopp Darts from Bull's as well as suitable Maximiser accessories. But which darts does Max Hopp currently play, how many grams does the Maximiser use and why is he so important for the history of German darts? Here you can find out more about the career, playing style, equipment and the person behind Max Hopp.

Max Hopp Profile

Name: Max Stefan Hopp
Nickname: The Maximiser / Maximiser
Birthday: August 20, 1996
Origin: Hesse, Germany
Residence / strong connection: Idstein
Nationality: German
Throwing hand: Right
Darts since: approximately 2008
PDC since: 2012
PDC Tour Card: 2015–2022 and again since 2025
Dart equipment supplier: Bull's NL
With Bull's since: 2017
Current well-known series: Bull's Max Hopp 90% E5
Known match weight: approx. 23 grams
Tungsten: 90% for the E5
World Youth Championship: Winner 2015
German Darts Open: Winner 2018
Players Championship: Winner 2018
European Championship: Semi-finalist 2018
World Cup of Darts: multiple times for Germany
Walk-on: "Hey Baby" by DJ Ötzi.

Who is Max Hopp?

Max Hopp was born on August 20, 1996 and grew up in Hesse. Bull's closely links him with Idstein and describes that his enthusiasm for darts began at a young age.

Hopp was thus part of a generation in which professional darts in Germany was still much smaller than it is today.

When he started, there was no large group of German PDC professionals.

Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis dominated international perception.

A German player on the big stage was something special.

Max Hopp gradually changed that.

Raymond van Barneveld as a great role model

It is interesting which player particularly fascinated Hopp in his youth:

Raymond van Barneveld.

Before his Premier League appearance in 2019, Hopp told Sky Sports that Barney had been his childhood idol.

His first purchased darts were even:

Raymond van Barneveld Triple B Darts.

Years later, Hopp played against his former idol at the Premier League in front of a huge German audience.

A pretty nice full circle.

Early entry into the international darts world

Hopp became internationally known as a teenager.

He played PDC tournaments as early as 2012.

This meant he was on the big stage unusually early for his age. Bull's lists 2012 as the year of his PDC debut.

His name was quickly associated with a hope:

When will Germany finally get a real international darts star?

For years, Hopp was the most obvious answer to this question.

PDC World Youth Champion 2015

The first major title came in 2015.

At the PDC World Youth Championship, Max Hopp reached the final.

His opponent:

Nathan Aspinall.

The final was extremely close.

Hopp won with:

6:5.

This made the Maximiser:

PDC World Youth Champion 2015.

For German darts, this was a historic success at the time.

The PDC later referred to Hopp as the first German to win a PDC title.

From Junior World Champion to German Hope

After the Youth World Championship title, expectations soared.

Hopp was no longer just a talented young player.

He was:

Junior World Champion.

Germany finally had a player who was genuinely expected to achieve great international success.

However, precisely this pressure of expectation would later also become a difficult aspect of his career.

German Darts Open 2018 – the historic breakthrough

On April 15, 2018, Max Hopp definitively made German darts history.

At the German Darts Open in Saarbrücken, he played probably the best tournament of his career.

On his way to the title, he defeated, among others:

Rob Cross

and

Peter Wright.

In the final he faced:

Michael Smith.

The final went down to the deciding leg.

Max Hopp vs. Michael Smith – 8:7

Hopp won the final with:

8:7.

This made him the:

first German winner of a PDC European Tour tournament.

This was not just a personal success.

It was a turning point for German PDC darts.

A German player had now proven:

You can not only beat individual big names.

You can win a complete PDC ranking tournament.

The first German PDC ranking winner

The distinction is important.

His World Youth title in 2015 was already a PDC title.

However, the German Darts Open victory in 2018 was a:

PDC ranking title on the regular Pro Tour.

This made Hopp the first German to achieve such a success.

Today there are several German PDC tournament winners.

In 2018, this was still historic new territory.

Second PDC ranking title in the same year

Anyone who thought Saarbrücken was just a one-off fairy tale got an answer a few months later.

At Players Championship 19, Hopp again reached a final.

His opponent was:

Madars Razma.

Hopp won:

6:3.

This gave him his second PDC ranking title.

And both came within a single year.

2018 – the best year of his career

Overall, 2018 was Max Hopp's great season.

He won:

German Darts Open

and

Players Championship 19.

In addition, he reached the:

semi-finals of the European Championship 2018.

Hopp thus played at a level that no German dart player had consistently shown before.

Max Hopp's greatest successes

His most important career successes include:

• PDC World Youth Champion 2015
• German Darts Open Champion 2018
• first German European Tour winner
• Players Championship 19 Winner 2018
• first German with regular PDC ranking titles
• European Championship Semi-finalist 2018
• World Matchplay Last 16 2019
• multiple participant in the PDC World Championship
• Premier League appearance 2019
• World Cup appearances for Germany
• several professional nine-darters
• re-gained PDC Tour Card since 2025.

His historical influence, in particular, cannot be measured solely by current ranking positions.

Max Hopp and the PDC World Championship

For years, Hopp was the most recognized German face at Alexandra Palace.

He played at the World Championship as a very young man.

His best results were multiple runs to the:

third round or Last 32 according to the tournament structure at the time.

However, continuity is particularly important.

For years, Max Hopp was practically automatically one of the names on whom German fans pinned their World Championship hopes.

Premier League 2019 in Berlin

In 2019, Hopp received a special appearance.

He was allowed to compete in the Premier League in Berlin as a local Contender or Challenger.

His opponent:

Raymond van Barneveld.

Exactly his childhood idol.

For Hopp, this was one of the most emotionally interesting moments of his career.

From the boy who bought Barney darts to the player who stood against Barney on the Premier League stage.

Germany continues to develop

However, for Max Hopp, the success of German darts later also became a challenge.

Suddenly came:

Gabriel Clemens.

Martin Schindler.

Florian Hempel.

Ricardo Pietreczko.

And other young players.

Hopp was no longer automatically:

"the German darts player."

Competition within the country became significantly greater.

At the same time, a more difficult sporting phase began.

Injuries slow Max Hopp

In 2021, Hopp suffered, among other things, a ligament tear or a severe ankle injury, which affected his season. This injury phase lasted longer and was one of the problems that hindered his sporting development.

Darts is not a running sport.

But long tournament days mean many hours of standing and walking.

Especially with a serious ankle injury, this can have a significant impact on training and tournaments.

Loss of Tour Card at the end of 2022

At the end of 2022 came the major setback.

Hopp lost his:

PDC Tour Card.

As a result, the former German top player largely disappeared from the regular Players Championship tournaments.

In 2023, he tried to return via Q-School.

It didn't work.

In 2024, he tried again.

Still no luck.

For a player who had already won two PDC ranking titles, this was a difficult situation.

From Player to TV Expert

During this time, however, a second professional foothold emerged.

Hopp increasingly worked as a:

darts expert and commentator for Sport1 and DAZN.

Especially at World Championships, he was still regularly seen at Alexandra Palace.

Only not in front of the board anymore.

But:

with a microphone.

Max Hopp still desperately wanted to return

Hopp, however, made it clear several times:

The TV job should not mean the end of his playing career.

In 2024, he stated that the most important goal remained:

to play himself.

At the same time, he openly admitted that he greatly enjoyed working as a commentator and expert.

This meant he suddenly had two possible careers.

But first, he wanted to return to the Tour.

Tour Card Comeback 2025

In January 2025, he finally succeeded.

At the European Q-School, Hopp collected enough points and secured another:

PDC Tour Card.

After two years without regular tour status, the Maximiser was back.

For Hopp, this was far more than just a qualification.

It was proof that years of hard work had not been in vain.

Return to the PDC World Championship 2026

At the end of 2025, the next big step followed.

For the first time in several years, Hopp qualified again for the PDC World Championship.

In round one, he met:

Martin Lukeman.

Hopp won:

3:1.

This marked his first victory at Alexandra Palace since his last World Championship appearance in 2021.

An emotional comeback

After this victory, Hopp clearly showed how much the return meant to him.

He spoke openly about years of hard work, criticism, and setbacks.

Particularly interesting was his self-description:

He had become "more truthful" and focused more on his own strengths and weaknesses rather than what others said about him.

This is a significant difference from the very young Max Hopp.

Back then, he practically carried the expectations of an entire darts nation.

Today, his career seems much more like his own project.

Second round against Luke Woodhouse

In the second round of the 2026 World Championship, he faced:

Luke Woodhouse

The match ended there.

Hopp lost with:

0:3.

Nevertheless, the mere return to the World Championship was an important success.

After years without a Tour Card, the Maximiser was back:

as a player at the Ally Pally.

Max Hopp 2026 – Final on the ProTour

Even more interesting is his development during the 2026 season.

On May 5, 2026, Hopp reached a Players Championship for the first time since his comeback:

PDC ProTour final.

There he met Wessel Nijman.

Nijman clearly won the final with:

8:1.

For Hopp, reaching the final was nevertheless an enormous signal.

He showed:

His comeback is not just about nostalgia.

He can still play deep in a complete tournament on the regular Tour.

Current World Ranking

At the end of July 2026, Max Hopp was ranked approximately:

67th in the PDC Order of Merit

was listed.

This means:

He continues to fight for the permanent securing of his Tour Card and re-entry into larger TV tournaments.

This is precisely why Players Championship finals and European Tour qualifications are particularly valuable at the moment.

What is Max Hopp's playing style?

Max Hopp has a relatively:

controlled, straight, and technically clean throw.

He is not among the extremely fast players.

But he also doesn't need unusually long preparation.

His rhythm is rather consistent.

Hopp works with a comparatively clear movement sequence and a dart that offers noticeable orientation on the barrel without being extremely aggressive.

This fits well with his current Bull's E5.

Which darts does Max Hopp play?

Max Hopp is currently with:

Bull’s NL

under contract.

The collaboration already began in 2017.

Bull’s now offers several Max Hopp series.

Currently, these include:

Max Hopp 95% CP
Max Hopp 90% E5
Max Hopp 80% Black
Maximiser Brass.

This means there are several variants, from affordable beginner darts to higher-quality tungsten models.

How many grams does Max Hopp play with?

Max Hopp is often listed in current player profiles with:

23 grams

.

However, the current E5 is available in four steel dart weights:

22 g
23 g
24 g
25 g.

For Diplomatgames, I would therefore formulate:

Max Hopp is currently strongly associated with a match weight of around 23 grams; his E5 Signature series is available from 22 to 25 grams.

This is cleaner than automatically presenting every retail weight as his personal match setup.

Who are Max Hopp darts suitable for?

Max Hopp darts can be particularly interesting if you:

• play with approximately 22 to 25 grams,
• like a rather compact barrel around 49 mm,
• prefer a ring grip,
• are looking for a clear grip position,
• want a moderate rather than an extremely aggressive grip,
• like slightly front-weighted darts,
• prefer Bull’s NL,
• or are a fan of the Maximiser.

The wide range of weights makes the E5 particularly versatile.

Max Hopp and Bull’s

Max Hopp switched to Bull’s NL in 2017.

The partnership has thus existed for many years and now includes several generations of signature darts.

For your Diplomatgames category, the manufacturer assignment is therefore very clear:

Max Hopp → Maximiser → Bull’s NL.

Unlike players with several recent manufacturer changes, there is little need for explanation here.

What did Max Hopp do besides darts?

During his phase without a Tour Card, Hopp developed a second career as a:

TV expert and commentator.

He worked for:

Sport1

and

DAZN.

The interesting thing:

Even after he regained his Tour Card, this media experience remains part of his profile.

Today, he can not only play the sport but also analyze and explain it in detail.

Does Max Hopp want to become a commentator later?

Quite possible.

Hopp already stated in 2024 that he greatly enjoys commentary work.

At the same time, he made it clear:

His first priority remains his active career.

In the long term, however, he has a very logical second career option.

Especially due to his international PDC experience, he can analyze game situations much differently than traditional presenters.

Max Hopp and criticism on the Internet

The difficult career years were apparently not only stressful in terms of sport.

Around his World Championship return in 2025, it was reported that Hopp also faced:

scorn and hatred on social media

during his weaker years.

Precisely because he was built up as the great hope of German darts at a very young age, public expectations were high.

Hopp now seems to handle this more consciously.

His statement after the World Championship comeback, to pay more attention to himself, fits exactly with this.

From prodigy to comeback player

This actually makes Max Hopp's story more exciting today than during his first rise.

At the beginning he was:

the German prodigy.

Then:

Junior World Champion.

European Tour winner.

PDC Order of Merit winner.

Later:

Injuries.

Lost Tour Card.

Missed Q-School.

TV expert.

And finally:

Tour Card back and a PDC World Championship player again.

In 2026, he even reached another Players Championship final.

This is not a straightforward career.

But that's precisely why it's interesting.

Max Hopp and the new German dart generation

Today, Max Hopp no longer has to represent the German dart world alone.

Martin Schindler is among the strongest Germans internationally.

Gabriel Clemens reached a World Championship semi-final.

Ricardo Pietreczko won on the European Tour.

Other German players hold Tour Cards.

This takes some attention away from Hopp.

On the other hand, it also reduces the pressure.

Today, he can try to be:

Max Hopp again

instead of the player who is solely responsible for the future of German darts.

Why is Max Hopp called "The Maximiser"?

His nickname is:

The Maximiser.

It is, of course, closely linked to his first name:

Max

.
Bull’s officially uses the name within its player branding.

The meaning also fits well:

A "Maximiser" tries to get the maximum out of things.

Especially after his Tour Card comeback, this nickname almost has an additional meaning in retrospect.

What is Max Hopp's walk-on song?

Max Hopp traditionally walks on to:

"Hey Baby" by DJ Ötzi

.

The song is particularly suitable for German and Austrian venues because the audience can immediately sing along.

Especially at his major European Tour appearances in Germany, the walk-on thus became an important part of the atmosphere.

Max Hopp – a pioneer of German darts

When evaluating his career, one should not only look at the current world ranking.

Today, German Tour Card players seem relatively normal.

In 2013 or 2014, that was completely different.

Hopp was one of the first players to regularly show a broad German audience that:

A German can compete on a PDC World Championship stage.

In 2015, he won the Junior World Championship title.

In 2018, the historic European Tour victory.

Later, other German players followed.

But Hopp was one of those who first opened that door wide.

Buy Max Hopp Darts at Diplomatgames

Do you want to buy Max Hopp Darts or try out the Maximiser's setup?

At Diplomatgames you will find various Max Hopp Darts from Bull’s as well as suitable accessories, depending on availability.

Currently particularly interesting are:

Bull’s Max Hopp 90% E5
Bull’s Max Hopp 95% CP
Bull’s Max Hopp 80% Black
Bull’s Maximiser Brass.

The Max Hopp E5 is made of 90% tungsten and is available as a steel dart in:

22 g, 23 g, 24 g and 25 g

.

Hopp himself is often listed with a setup around:

23 grams

.

So if you want to stay as close as possible to his known playing setup, the:

Max Hopp E5 23g

is particularly interesting.

When buying, however, pay attention to:

weight, barrel length, diameter, balance and grip strength.

Discover the available Max Hopp Darts at Diplomatgames now and find out which Maximiser setup best suits your personal throwing style.

FAQ – frequently asked questions about Max Hopp

Which darts does Max Hopp play?

Max Hopp plays Bull’s Darts. His current signature series includes the Bull’s Max Hopp 90% E5, developed in collaboration with him.

How many grams does Max Hopp play with?

Max Hopp is often listed with 23-gram darts. However, his current E5 series is available in 22, 23, 24, and 25 grams.

Which manufacturer does Max Hopp play for?

Max Hopp has been playing for Bull’s NL since 2017.

What is Max Hopp's greatest success?

His historically most significant success is the victory at the German Darts Open 2018. In the final, he defeated Michael Smith 8:7 and became the first German European Tour winner.

How many PDC ranking titles has Max Hopp won?

Hopp won two regular PDC ranking tournaments in 2018: the German Darts Open and Players Championship 19.

Was Max Hopp a Junior World Champion?

Yes. Max Hopp won the PDC World Youth Championship in 2015. In the final, he beat Nathan Aspinall 6:5.

Does Max Hopp still have a PDC Tour Card?

Yes. Hopp regained his PDC Tour Card in early 2025 and will play regularly on the PDC ProTour again in 2026.

How far did Max Hopp get at the 2026 World Championship?

Hopp won his opening match against Martin Lukeman 3:1. In the second round, he lost to Luke Woodhouse 0:3.

How is Max Hopp doing athletically in 2026?

In May 2026, Hopp reached a Players Championship final, where he lost to Wessel Nijman. At the end of July, he was approximately 67th in the PDC world rankings.

What does Max Hopp do besides darts?

Hopp also works as a TV expert and commentator, including for Sport1 and DAZN. However, he emphasizes that his active playing career still has priority.

Who was Max Hopp's dart idol?

His great youth idol was Raymond van Barneveld. Hopp even explained that his first bought player darts were Barney Triple B Darts.

Why is Max Hopp called "The Maximiser"?

The nickname is based on his first name Max and has been part of his official player identity for many years. Bull’s also lists him under this nickname.

What is Max Hopp's walk-on song?

Max Hopp uses "Hey Baby" by DJ Ötzi as his well-known walk-on song.

Where can you buy Max Hopp Darts?

You can buy Max Hopp Darts at Diplomatgames. Depending on availability, you will find Bull’s Max Hopp E5, 95% CP, 80% Black, and other Maximiser darts and accessories there.