Nico Kurz

**Nico Kurz** (born 31 January 1997) is a German industrial mechanic and professional darts player who currently plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and other national events. He is a two-time German Super League champion.

## Career

Kurz came to darts in 2014 through his parents. He was already able to qualify for the German Super League in 2016. In the following months, Kurz played his first tournaments on the PDC Development Tour and reached final-stage. In 2017, Kurz finished eighth in the German Super League, but was eliminated in the group-stage of the play-offs. At the beginning of 2018. he also completed a day of PDC Q-School, but was unable to win a game there.

His first appearance at the Professional Darts Corporation television tournament was at the 2018 German Darts Masters in Gelsenkirchen at the end of May. Jamie Lewis briefly played a thrilling game, but in the end had to admit defeat 5–6 in the decider after a missed match dart on the bullseye in the first round.

Kurz debut at the PDC European Tour during the 2019 European Darts Open, where he missed seven match darts in the first round match against Kim Huybrechts and in the decider leg. His big performance then followed at the 2019 German Darts Masters in Cologne in mid-July, where he defeated Gary Anderson by 6–4 in legs in the first round match. In the quarter-finals he also held his own against Peter Wright, but in the end had to admit defeat by 6–8 in legs.

During the German Super League in 2019, Kurz finished the group-stage at first place and then also prevailed in the play-offs to secure his first PDC World Darts Championship participation. In the final match of the German Super League he beat Martin Schindler by 10–6 in legs. During 2020 PDC World Darts Championship, he beat James Wilson in first round match. In the second round, Kurz also defeated Joe Cullen by 3–1 in sets. In the third round he had to admit defeat to Luke Humphries by 2–4 in sets.

At the beginning of March, Kurz made it to the final for the first time on the PDC Development Tour in Hildesheim, where he had to admit defeat to Ryan Meikle. In 2020, Nico Kurz created a novelty in German darts history. For the first time ever, a player won the German Super League title twice. Kurz also managed a double victory in a row, defeating Dragutin Horvat in a dramatic way in the final. In mid-September he also qualified for the 2020 German Darts Championship. For the first time he made it into the second round there, as well as at the 2020 European Darts Grand Prix. During the 2021 PDC World Darts Championship, Kurz met Andy Hamilton at the start, whom he defeated by 3–1 in sets. Despite a good performance, he lost to Gabriel Clemens by 1–3 in sets in second round match.

As a two-time defending champion, Kurz was stopped in the quarter-finals of the German Super League in 2021 by Dragutin Horvat, who took revenge for the final defeat from the previous year. At the beginning of November, Kurz had his first victory on the PDC Development Tour. After a somewhat longer break, Kurz qualified for the 2022 International Darts Open, where he reached the second round for the third time in this tournament series after a victory in the German duel over Gabriel Clemens. However, he received a whitewash against Dirk van Duijvenbode. In May, he qualified for the 2022 European Darts Open, where he lost to Rowby-John Rodriguez in first round match.

In November, he took part in the German Super League again, but this time he missed out on the knock-out rounds. During 2023 European Darts Grand Prix, Kurz missed a match dart in the first round against José de Sousa. During 2023 German Darts Open, he lost to Brian Raman in the first round match. Kurz also qualified for the last tournament of this season played in Germany. In the first round of the 2023 German Darts Championship he beat Dylan Slevin in first round and surprisinlgy defeat Jonny Clayton in the second round match.

## Personal life

Nico parents, Holger Kurz and Sabine Lisch were both soft-tip German Champions. He worsk as an industrial mechanic at Stadtwerke Hanau and is a fan of Eintracht Frankfurt.

## World Championship results

### PDC

* 2020: Third round (lost to Luke Humphries 2–4)
* 2021: Second round (lost to Gabriel Clemens 1–3)