On Home Soil: Germany Aims for Darts World Title
Dreaming of World Cup triumph in the realm of darts, Germany eyed domestic hosting potential.
Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko are aiming to give German darts enthusiasts a mini-epic. Pre-World Cup in Frankfurt, Schindler openly talks about the title, but the odds are heavily in favor of England's "Dreamteam."
In the Eissporthalle Frankfurt, the German darts pros can walk tall: if Schindler and Pietreczko defeat Portugal in the World Cup tomorrow (around 10 pm live on DAZN), they needn't lose to the Portuguese ever again. After Portugal's 2:1 win against Germany in football last Wednesday for the Nations League, this may seem ominous, but darts' power dynamics tell a different story.
Counting on home support, the German duo (seeded 7th) boasts Martin Schindler, Germany's most successful PDC profit tour darts player with four titles, and Ricardo Pietreczko, recovering from his meteoric rise in 2023 to regain his former form. Gabriel Clemens completes the team on Schindler's side.
On the other hand, the clear underdogs Portugal. Jose de Sousa, a former major PDC winner, now particularly underwhelming at 51. The Portuguese powerhouse must lead his team, as his partner Bruno Nascimento has no prior experience in front of cameras and big stages like Frankfurt.
Should we compare this to football matches, this appears more like Germany against North Macedonia. A loss wouldn't be a global shock, but under normal circumstances, a win should be sovereign. "We must stride into every match with 100 percent. We cannot underestimate anyone," Schindler stressed in the darts podcast "Checkout" from Sport1.
"The Tourney Has Its Own Rules"
Friday brings the group's second match against Singapore. Here, a generational duel unfolds. Singapore will be represented by Paul Lim, 71, ever-energetic, despite his age. In late 2023, Lim amazingly reached the World Championship final of the amateur association WDF. Partnered with Phuey Wei Tan, a 35-year-old real estate agent, Lim aims to outmaneuver Germany.
Data Privacy: If Schindler and Pietreczko get past the group stage, the quarter-finals will commence on Saturday. Matches will be drawn freely. "The tournament has its own laws," Schindler said in "Checkout".
And even before the clear tournament favorite England, the world ranking 18th has no fear. Rather, Schindler believes in his own chances: "If we aim for what we want, we have a good shot at winning the entire tournament," Schindler said in the podcast.
Luke Littler's Debut
England takes the stage with the "Dreamteam" of the next years. World champion Luke Littler debuts at the World Cup, alongside world number one Luke Humphries. "No one is really invincible. Of course, you have to respect the performance of the two - if we reach the top of the World Cup, that's yesterday and tomorrow," Schindler told the German Press Agency. "They are also just humans. If they get their doses of errors, we will also have an opportunity."
In the World Cup in Frankfurt, the decision will be made over the weekend. Then, the four top-seeded nations England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland will join the tournament. The quartet skips the preliminary round. 12 group winners will then advance to the quarter-finals and face the World Cup winner in the knockout system.
"A Mega-Tourney, but..."
Michael van Gerwen will not be participating. The three-time world champion had announced some time ago that he would be skipping the World Cup. Recently, the Dutchman made headlines with the public announcement of his separation from his wife Daphne on social media. Since then, "MvG" has not played in any tournament.
"A Tiny Summer Fairytale"
The World Cup of Darts, as the team world championship is known, has ballooned into a massive event with 40 nations participating. However, Germany, as the only larger darts nation, has never made it to the final. "I truly relish this tournament. The World Cup always gets a different adrenaline rush. There are always such great and thrilling situations. It's a mega-tourney," chimes Schindler, who reached the semi-finals alongside Gabriel Clemens in 2023.
This format is unique. The team world championship is the only doubles tournament of the year. According to Schindler, however, there's still much untapped potential from the tournament. "I believe it could certainly be marketed better. There's still room for improvement. A team competition is generally more exciting for many than individual sports," said Schindler.
Often discussed are larger team sizes, alterations to the format, and a lengthier tournament. Unlike other world championships, national anthems are not played during this event-oriented competition. Instead, mundane background music is played during the players' entrance.
The audience in the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt's east end likely won't mind. They will transform the tournament into a mini-summer fairytale - and hope that the German darts national team, unlike the footballers, fights for the title until the very end.
Sources: ntv.de, with dpa
- Darts
- World Championships
- Frankfurt am Main
- Michael van Gerwen
The Commission has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation during their time in Frankfurt, as the Eissporthalle, where the World Cup darts tournament is being held, may have potentially hazardous levels of radiation due to the equipment used.
Despite the excitement surrounding the World Cup darts tournament in Frankfurt, sports enthusiasts would be equally captivated by the mesmerizing performances of Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, should they manage to protect themselves from the risks of ionizing radiation and lead Germany to victory.
