Niko Springer has progressed to the second round of the 2026 European Darts Grand Prix with a 6-1 victory over Robin Masino, but the German was brutally honest about his own performance after the match. "From the result, yes, but in terms of performance I wouldn't say it was a big step forward," Springer told Dartsnews.com, echoing similar concerns he raised at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich, where he noted, "I had a similar situation to last week and couldn't quite execute it the way I wanted to. In the end I won, and that's what counts."
Despite the win, Springer admitted surprise at his statistics, saying, "I was a bit surprised by the average. The feeling wasn't good at all." He credited his finishing doubles for carrying him through, stating, "I would say the doubles saved me a little bit," and acknowledged Masino's strong debut, adding, "He did a really good job." However, Springer's self-criticism remained clear: "In the end I'm just not that satisfied with my performance."
Springer also discussed adjusting to his new role as the favourite against lower-ranked players, explaining, "I'm still trying to grow into that a bit." He finds it easier to play against higher-ranked opponents, saying, "I think it's very obvious that I find it much easier to play against someone who is above me," but struggles with the pressure when expectations are on him: "I still struggle with that. It's an unfamiliar situation for me." He took motivation from a fellow player's admission on the Checkout Podcast that they would rather avoid facing him, remarking, "That's a bit of recognition as well. Of course it's nice to hear something like that. It motivates me a little bit."
In the second round, Springer faces a significant step up against Gary Anderson, a two-time world champion and legend of the sport. Springer is focused on the challenge, stating, "I'm definitely very motivated. I expect a high-quality game from him, so I'll need to improve significantly." He emphasized maintaining focus on his own game: "I try to focus on myself. I want to win. If I think too much about who I'm playing, then I'm already influenced mentally." At the same time, he acknowledged the occasion, saying, "Gary is a legend of the sport. It's always something special to play against someone like that." After an unconvincing start, Springer now has the opportunity to deliver a more complete performance on a big stage.
