The second PDC Europe Next Gen event truly lived up to its name, showcasing a stunning display of young talent. 18-year-old Florian Preis emerged as the undisputed champion, securing his maiden victory on the series by defeating fellow rising star Finn Behrens 6-2 in the final. The tournament was a testament to the future of darts, with newcomers like Kevin Jußen and Kilian Hohnstedt also reaching the semi-finals, and former European Tour player Nico Kurz making a strong comeback.
Florian Preis: A Dominant Performance
Florian Preis, at just 18 years old, was unstoppable throughout the day. His journey to the title was marked by overwhelming dominance:
- In the new league phase, the Bavarian prodigy dropped only a single leg, ensuring he entered the knockout stage as a top seed.
- He delivered a **stunning 100+ average** against Louis Schacht in the early knockout rounds.
- Preis secured **whitewash victories** against Nico Hackenesch and Marvin Gemein, demonstrating his clinical finishing.
- His only challenge before the semi-finals came in the Last 16 against Moritz Bohrmann, where he eventually triumphed in a decider, maintaining a strong average in the low 90s.
- He then defeated returning star Nico Kurz 5-3, followed by a comfortable 5-1 win over Kilian Hohnstedt to reach the final.
Finn Behrens’ Impressive Journey to the Final
Finn Behrens also had an exceptional day, proving his mettle as an emerging talent. The European Tour participant mirrored Preis’s league phase performance by dropping only one leg himself. His path to the final included:
- A nail-biting decider against Julian Beil, which he successfully navigated.
- Comfortable victories in all other matches leading up to the semi-finals.
- A decisive **5-1 win over Kevin Jußen** in the semi-final, setting up the clash against Preis.
The Grand Finale: Preis vs. Behrens
The final between Preis and Behrens was a highly anticipated showdown between two of the brightest young stars. Preis quickly asserted his authority, taking the first two legs. Behrens responded by checking out 80 points, but Preis, a WDF Youth World Championship participant, swiftly regained control, extending his lead to 4-1 with legs in **14 and 15 darts**. Behrens managed to secure one more leg, but Preis was relentless, sealing his victory with an **impressive 11-darter**.
Other Standout Performances
While the youth dominated the top spots, several other players delivered notable performances:
- Nico Kurz: Reached the quarter-finals, marking his definitive arrival on the PDC Europe Next Gen circuit and laying a solid foundation for the year.
- Patrick Tringler: The Austrian representative showed incredible resilience, overturning a 0-3 deficit and surviving match darts against Sebastian Stute to advance. He also reached the quarter-finals.
- Patrick Klingelhöfer: Also made it to the quarter-finals.
- Andree Welge: The experienced German darts veteran from Bremen reached the Last 16.
- Jens Kniest: Showcased significantly improved form after a break, also reaching the Last 16.
- Daniel Klose: The winner of the previous day’s event was defeated in the Last 64 by Patrick Klingelhöfer.
Tournament Format & League Stage Highlights
After some initial challenges on Saturday, the league phase ran smoothly this time. All participants were ranked in a comprehensive table, with Julian Beil ultimately topping the standings, followed by Maurice Gutgesell and Yannick Müller in the top three.
Interestingly, some well-known names failed to make it into the top 128 knockout stage, including Liam Maendl-Lawrance, Oliver Müller, and Rowby-John Rodriguez. Michael Hurtz, Lenny Schlüter, and the Berlin duo Marcel Althaus & David Schlichting also exited before the knockout rounds.
A Battle of Averages: Krohne vs. Donnevert
One of the most remarkable matches occurred in the Last 128, where Paul Krohne delivered an exceptional **102 average** but still lost. His opponent, Mika Donnevert (nicknamed “Mikado”), played an astonishing **111.84 average**, securing the win. Despite his incredible performance, Krohne missed out on prize money, as did René Eidams, Marcel Hausotter, and Kevin Troppmann.
Prize Money & Performance Bonuses
The PDC Europe Next Gen offers substantial prize money and performance bonuses:
Prize Money Per Event:
- Winner: €1,500
- Runner-Up: €750
- Semi-Finalists: €400
- Quarter-Finalists: €250
- Last 16: €150
- Last 32: €100
- Last 64: €50
- Total Sum Per Event: €8,450
Performance Bonuses:
- 9-Darter: €99
- 10-Darter: €8
- 11-Darter: €5
- 12-Darter: €3
- 13-15 Darter: €1
- Checkouts 161-170: €3
- Checkouts 131-160: €2
- Checkouts 101-130: €1
- Scores 171, 174, 177, 180: €1
What’s Next for PDC Europe Next Gen?
Following this exciting event, the rankings see Florian Preis at the top, with Daniel Klose in second place, though the full clarification of Saturday’s tournament standings is still pending. The next PDC Europe Next Gen weekend is scheduled for **February 14th and 15th in Kalkar**, featuring FA Cup and Master-Out formats, promising more thrilling darts action.
Source: Based on an article from dartn.de.
