He threw his arrows onto the carpet, he touched his head, hopped off, stopped again, ran to the left of the stage, then to the right, put his shaking hands in front of his face and bit his forearm. Where should they go, all the emotions? In the end, Martin Schindler knelt on the floor and cried uncontrollably. Everything had to go at the end of a very long, difficult journey.
She started ten years ago as a helper on the PDC Europe European Tour. Schindler stuck wristbands and scanned tickets. He had talent, became a darts professional, but dramatically narrowly lost his tour card at the end of 2020. Many sports biographies would have ended at this point, but Schindler accepted the challenge, worked harder than before and fought his way back.
The curve has been pointing steadily upward since 2021, and the development is clear. Now the highlight for now: his first title on the professional tour.
In the end only one person remained: Martin Schindler won the International Darts Open in Riesa
Quelle: PDC Europe/Jonas Hunold
Schindler won the International Darts Open in Riesa, defeated the Welshman Gerwyn Price in the final 8:5 (average 96.35) and climbed to number 22 in the world rankings. “I couldn’t have dreamed of it,” said Schindler with a look at his beginnings as a helper and steward on the tour, “but to be honest, I also worked a lot to get to where I am right now, and today I am perhaps the happiest man in the world.”
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After the trophy was handed over, he jumped across the stage like a little child and let out sharp screams of joy. There is probably no one in the darts scene who doesn’t begrudge him this success. The Strausberger, who now lives with his wife and daughter in Rodgau in Hesse, is one of the most popular figures on the tour. “My legs are wobbly to no end. It’s so brutal,” said Schindler, laughing and crying at the same time: “I’ve been playing the tour for seven and a half, eight and a half years. It’s been so long that I can’t even say exactly how long. And I have such an awesome trophy. Is not that great?!”
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DAZN commentator Adrian Geiler also shed tears at the microphone, and expert Max Hopp was also silent for a noticeably long time. Hopp was the first German to win a tournament on the European Tour, last October a second was added with Ricardo Pietreczko, now Schindler, who also overtook Gabriel Clemens in the Order of Merit with his triumph and is now the new German number one in the Darts is.
Here darts professional Martin Schindler imitates his colleagues
Martin Schindler is not just one of the best German darts professionals. He is also an excellent impersonator. Here he recreates six world-class players. Do you recognize these players?
The finale started with a bit of a setback. Schindler conceded the break at the start and was 0:2 behind, but repaired the accident in 15 and 17 darts to make it 2:2 and then made his throw to make it 3:2. Then the “Iceman” was back at it, secured two legs in a row and was a whopping ten points ahead in the average (105 to 95).
But Schindler remained unimpressed and countered in 14 darts with the break to make it 4:4, when he didn’t allow himself to be irritated by an annoying bouncer and now had the advantage of the throw again. A 120 Shanghai finish made it 5:4. “Oh how beautiful that is,” sang the 3,300 fans in the hall.
It’s a shame, however, that the generally good mood in Riesa was once again dampened. Unsportsmanlike whistles during the decisive throws of the German opponents continued throughout the weekend, including against the Welshman, who was constantly disturbed in his attempts at the checkout, as Price criticized after the lost final.
Schindler couldn’t bother with that, he had already missed four checkdarts before, with his nerves strong, he made it 6:4 perfect and then spectacularly made it 7:4 with a 10-darter. Only one leg was missing.
Price, who had played an incredible average of 115.74 points against Pietreczko in the round of 16, made his throw again, but “The Wall” didn’t crumble, was able to rely on a stable double rate (44.4 percent) and secured himself the 8:5, the first title and the sixth victory in the 18th duel with the “Iceman”, who only converted five of his 20 checkout attempts.
Schindler ready for major tournaments
In the semi-final, Schindler had already indicated that he could have a really big success this weekend. Against Chris Dobey, number 14 in the world, he got off to a lightning start 5-0 and used the lead in a controlled manner to win 7-3. When the score was 6:2, “The Wall” had two match darts on double 16. An average of 98.52 points was enough against the Englishman, who got up to speed too late.
On the way to his second semi-final on the European Tour 2024 – at Easter he had lost 2:7 to Michael van Gerwen in Munich – Schindler started on Friday with a 6:1 against compatriot Jan Dückers. On Saturday his outstanding form flashed for the first time in the 6:3 win against Joe Cullen. Schindler averaged 105 points.
It was 6:1 in the round of 16 on Sunday afternoon against Richard Veenstra from the Netherlands (average: 97.07). “Tonight it continues, and it should at least be the final this year,” predicted Schindler and was right with his first win over Danny Noppert and the success against Dobey.
With his successes, Schindler not only secured prize money of 30,000 pounds, but also one of the 32 places in three major tournaments. He is currently in first place in the rankings for the European Darts Championship, and in 21st place in the race for a ticket to the World Matchplay in Blackpool in July and the World Grand Prix in Leicester in October.
“For me, this win was important for the rankings. “World Matchplay and World Grand Prix were my priority this year,” said Schindler after he had sorted out his emotions. The year has just begun.
Results International Darts Open
Round of 16
Martin Schindler (D) – Richard Veenstra (NED) 6:1
Danny Noppert (NED) – Nathan Aspinall (ENG) 6:2
Damon Heta (AUS) – Ryan Searle (ENG) 5:6
Chris Dobey (ENG) – Gabriel Clemens (D) 6:0
Luke Humphries (ENG) – Stephen Bunting (ENG) 4:6
Rob Cross (ENG) – Ritchie Edhouse (ENG) 4:6
Gerwyn Price (WAL) – Ricardo Pietreczko (D) 6:3
Ross Smith (ENG) – Cameron Menzies (SCO) 6:4
Quarterfinals
Martin Schindler (D) – Danny Noppert (NED) 6:5
Ryan Searle (ENG) – Chris Dobey (ENG) 2:6
Stephen Bunting (ENG) – Ritchie Edhouse (ENG) 6:5
Gerwyn Price (WAL) – Ross Smith (ENG) 6:5
Semifinals
Martin Schindler (D) – Chris Dobey (ENG) 7:3
Stephen Bunting (ENG) – Gerwyn Price (WAL) 5:7
Finale
Martin Schindler (D) – Gerwyn Price (WAL) 8:5
