Last Dance, Last Title: Karlsruher SC’s Bittersweet Bundesliga Darts Triumph
The 2026 DDV Bundesliga Darts Final Round in Verden saw the Karlsruher SC (KSC) darts team achieve a historic feat, securing their third German Championship title with a hard-fought 7-5 victory over Dartmoor Darmstadt in a thrilling final. While Dart Team Köln and DC Bulldogs Wolfenbüttel also reached the semi-finals, the real shockwave came after the celebrations: this victory marks the end of an era, as the KSC’s darts department is set to close due to a complete withdrawal of financial support. All KSC dart teams will transition to ATSV Mutschelbach, preserving their league status. This article delves into the drama, the triumph, and the unexpected farewell of a darts dynasty.
The Road to Glory: Group Stage Drama Unfolds
The tournament kicked off on Saturday in Lower Saxony with an intense group phase, setting the stage for the knockout rounds.
Group A: KSC Dominates, Wolfenbüttel Advances
- Karlsruher SC immediately asserted their dominance, securing the top spot. Their journey began with a 7-5 win against DC Hawks Vilsbiburg, followed by a 6-6 draw against DC Vegesack Bremen.
- The group victory was sealed by the strong performances of players like José Justicia and Martin Kramer in the doubles.
- For DC Hawks Vilsbiburg, the tournament was short-lived, as two quick defeats meant an early exit.
- The battle for second place was fierce. Despite needing a win against Vilsbiburg, DC Vegesack Bremen only managed three singles victories, ultimately losing a crucial doubles match (Stute/Venema against Stöckli/Angerer). This allowed DC Bulldogs Wolfenbüttel to snatch the second semi-final spot, leaving the decorated Bremen team, led by Andree Welge, out of contention.
Group B: Dartmoor’s Unbeaten Run
- Group B presented a clearer picture, primarily due to the exceptional performance of defending champions Dartmoor Darmstadt, who remained undefeated.
- A pivotal opening match saw Dart Team Köln secure a decisive 9-3 victory against DC LaBamba, including three whitewash wins in doubles. This strong start and superior leg difference proved crucial, propelling Köln into the final day.
- DC LaBamba and Dart Team Steinfurt, despite commendable efforts, were eliminated after only managing wins against each other. However, reaching the top 8 of the season was a significant achievement for both.
Intense Knockout Rounds: Semifinals Deliver High Stakes
Sunday morning brought the semi-final clashes, where the top teams battled for a place in the grand final.
Semifinal 1: Karlsruher SC vs. Dart Team Köln
The much-anticipated encounter between Karlsruher SC and Dart Team Köln 1 saw KSC maintain control. Although Pascal Wirotius of Köln delivered a strong 4-1 win against KSC’s star player Mensur Suljovic, KSC quickly secured the other three singles matches, establishing a crucial two-set lead. They maintained this advantage at 5-3, with Wolff/Winterling and Suljovic/Köhnlein winning their doubles matches to secure KSC’s spot in the final.
Semifinal 2: Dartmoor Darmstadt vs. DC Bulldogs Wolfenbüttel
The second semi-final was equally decisive. DC Bulldogs Wolfenbüttel, with Cedric Tietjens and Tour Card holder Arno Merk, initially drew level at 2-2. However, Dartmoor Darmstadt then surged ahead with three consecutive wins from Nico Kurz, Zdravko Antunovic, and Christian Soethe, establishing a 5-3 lead after the singles. Moh/Müller and Cyffka/Latifi then sealed the victory for Darmstadt, sending them to the final.
The Grand Finale: KSC’s Triumphant Last Stand
The final match pitted the Karlsruher SC against DC Dartmoor Darmstadt, a repeat of recent years’ dominance. KSC started strong, immediately taking the lead.
- Mensur Suljovic and José Justicia claimed the first two games for KSC.
- Thomas Köhnlein extended the lead to 3-1 with a 4-3 win over Mario Curschmann, with Selami Latifi scoring Darmstadt’s only point in the early stages.
- Liam Maendl-Lawrance and Martin Kramer defended KSC’s two-set advantage, while Zdravko Antunovic and Christian Soethe kept Darmstadt’s hopes alive.
- Going into the doubles, KSC held a 5-3 lead. Darmstadt fought back, with Kurz/Soethe taking one doubles match, and Cyffka/Latifi adding another, bringing the score closer and creating tension for a potential team-game decider.
- However, the dream of a comeback was short-lived. Just moments later, Martin Kramer hit the decisive double 5, securing the German Championship title for Karlsruher SC.
This victory marks KSC’s third title, following their successes in 2023 and 2024, cementing their place as a true darts powerhouse.
A Bittersweet Farewell: The End of an Era for KSC Darts
Amidst the euphoria of their third national title, a profound and unexpected announcement cast a shadow: this was, for now, the Karlsruher SC’s final appearance on the darts stage. The club’s darts department is officially being deregistered and closed as of June 30th.
According to team captain Florian Flickinger, the decision stems from the KSC’s executive board and management withdrawing all financial support for the darts department at the end of the season. Faced with this sudden cut, Captain Flickinger proactively sought new affiliations for the teams.
The good news for the players is that all KSC dart teams will now transfer to ATSV Mutschelbach. Crucially, this move will ensure that the league status of all teams is maintained, allowing them to continue competing at their current levels. Despite the closure, KSC acknowledged and thanked the darts department on its homepage for their remarkable successes over the past years.
Weekend’s Standout Performers
The tournament also highlighted some extraordinary individual performances:
- Mensur Suljovic recorded an impressive 38 best performances throughout the weekend.
- José Justicia remained undefeated in all 5 singles matches, showcasing incredible consistency and skill.
These outstanding statistics underscore the quality and depth of the Karlsruher SC team, making their final triumph all the more memorable.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
