For two decades, Dartn.de has been at the forefront of German darts, celebrating its 20th anniversary on March 17, 2006. What began as a solo passion project to inform and excite fans about the sport has blossomed into Germany’s oldest independent darts news website, boasting a dedicated team, a bustling forum with over 22,000 members, and the popular ‘Shortleg’ podcast. From live tournament reports and exclusive player insights to maintaining a commitment to factual, unbiased reporting, Dartn.de has shaped the German darts landscape, promising to continue its legacy for years to come.
The Genesis of a Darts Legacy: 20 Years of Dartn.de
Exactly 20 years ago, on March 17, 2006, the website Dartn.de launched its operations. Since then, the world of darts has seen immense changes, and Dartn.de has evolved right alongside it. The initial idea was simple yet ambitious: to inform interested individuals about the sport of darts and ignite their passion for the arrows.
At the time, comprehensive information was scarce. Details on the sport’s history, playing venues, throwing techniques, player profiles, and tournament reports were largely missing. Dartn.de stepped in to fill this crucial gap, becoming the oldest existing and independent darts news website in Germany.
Milestones on the Oche: Key Moments in Dartn.de’s History
The journey has been marked by several significant achievements:
- First Major Live Coverage: One of the earliest major events Dartn.de covered live was the “Meet the Power II” tournament in Geiselwind. This historic event offered the first-ever PDC World Championship spot for a German-speaking participant, ultimately secured by Austria’s Anton Pein.
- The Dartn.de Darts Forum: Just a few months later, on December 6, 2006, another cornerstone was laid with the creation of the Dartn.de Darts Forum. Long before social media giants like Facebook or Instagram gained prominence, this platform provided a vibrant daily exchange for darts enthusiasts. Today, it boasts over 22,000 members and remains a highly active community hub.
- “Shortleg” Podcast: On October 30, 2019, Dartn.de expanded its offerings with its in-house podcast, “Shortleg.” Since its inception, it has produced over 300 (live) episodes, featuring a wide array of guests from the darts scene, delving deep into discussions about the sport.
Behind the scenes, the dedication is immense. The platform now publishes over 550 news reports and articles annually, alongside nearly 2,300 static pages, including independent and thoroughly researched player profiles and tournament pages. This extensive output is a testament to the team’s relentless hard work and personal commitment.
The Heartbeat of the Team: Stories from the Front Lines
While Dartn.de was initially a solo endeavor by founder Patrick “Echse” Exner, the rapid growth of darts made it impossible for one person to manage. The team expanded, starting with Daniel Schmidhofer joining in late 2010, and growing to eight dedicated individuals today. Each member brings unique experiences and cherished memories:
Daniel Schmidhofer’s Unforgettable Moments
Daniel fondly recalls his early impressions covering tournaments: “Sportively, it was a highlight for me to experience Phil Taylor live and up close at the edge of the stage. The two 9-darters by Adrian Lewis in 2009 (as a fan in the hall) and Simon Whitlock in 2012 (as an on-site editor) also remain unforgettable. A curious story involved Gary Anderson, who officials were desperately searching for because he was due on stage, with everyone running around nervously, while ‘The Flying Scotsman’ calmly played with an employee’s dog in the entrance area.”
Kevin Barth’s World Championship Surprise
For Kevin Barth, a moment at the PDC World Championship stands out: “I vividly remember the PDC World Championship 2018, when Kevin Münch beat Adrian Lewis 3-1. We were in the press room, and Wayne Mardle crashed our interview with Kevin to congratulate him!“
Marvin van den Boom’s Historic Bullseye
The German Darts Open 2018 in Saarbrücken is etched in Marvin van den Boom’s memory: “I was living in Saarbrücken as a student at the time and was on-site for Dartn.de every day. When Max Hopp checked 121 on the bullseye in the final decider against Michael Smith to win the title, I was just a few meters from the stage, witnessing German darts history. Afterwards, I even got to interview Max. Generally, reporting live from the Ally Pally, being close to the players, or spending nights on ‘Shortleg’ with various guests is still something I thoroughly enjoy.”
Moritz Käthner’s Quirky Podcast Tales
Moritz Käthner remembers some very unusual recording situations for “Shortleg,” particularly referencing an episode with Roland Scholten. He also recalls an interview with Nico Kurz: “It was the first ‘Corona-WM’ (World Championship during the pandemic). I was at home, connected via WhatsApp with Moritz Blume, who was on-site at the Ally Pally. What a bizarre situation!”
Kevin Schiller’s Eye for the Unexpected
For editor Kevin Schiller, it’s not always the major sporting clashes that stick in the mind: “My first time as an editor and photographer was at the International Darts Open in Riesa 2022. After the first-round match between Mervyn King and Janos Vegsö, Russ Bray had to explain to the Hungarian how to leave the board – a perfect photo opportunity for our news story of the day. Also that weekend, Niko Springer’s star began to rise, and Gerwyn Price secured another title at his favorite European Tour tournament.”
Patrick Exner’s Vision: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Founder Patrick “Echse” Exner reflects on the journey: “When I started the Dartn.de project exactly 20 years ago, there was nothing comparable in the German-speaking internet. Having been captivated by darts for 16 years already, and wanting to infect others with my enthusiasm, I decided to open an information portal where users could learn about basics like throwing technique, dimensions, distances, and dart players. It quickly became clear that this site should also regularly provide the darts community with factual news and information.”
He continues, “But I never would have imagined what this small project would become 20 years later. Today, Dartn.de has a large editorial team of highly motivated and knowledgeable editors, without whom the site could never continue due to the massively increased number of tournaments and other news. We have over 22,000 registered members in the largest German-speaking darts forum, as well as a large fanbase on social media. And with ‘Shortleg,’ we launched one of the first German-speaking darts podcasts, which has now built a large community of loyal listeners. Every year, we report from the Darts World Championship and many other tournaments, big and small, and we want to continue doing this for you in the coming years and decades.”
Exner emphasizes Dartn.de’s core values: “Even though there are now more competitors and ‘new German’ content creators than ever before, we will continue to report on darts factually, informatively, independently, and objectively. Unfortunately, there are now also many creators who spread dangerous half-truths and fake or ‘sensational’ news just to generate a click or two. You will never experience that with us, as has been the case in the past.”
Thank You to Our Community
Patrick concludes with a heartfelt message: “I want to thank all users for their loyalty over the past 20 years and hope that you will continue to support us for the next 20 years. Your Patrick ‘Echse’ Exner.”
For discussions and questions, visit our Dartn.de Darts Forum.
Photo Credit: Dartn.de
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
