“After that 180, he completely flipped a switch” – Is the European Darts Grand Prix the turning point for Martin Schindler in 2026?

At the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen, Gerwyn Price secured his tenth European Tour title with a final win over Ross Smith. But on the Tops Tops Tops podcast with Adrian Geiler, Fabian Dippold, and Max Meintz, the spotlight fell above all on another player: Germany’s number one, Martin Schindler.

When discussing the winners of the tournament, Adrian Geiler made it clear right away: “It’s obviously Martin Schindler and his weekend. It may have been only two wins, but it’s much more than what he actually achieved.” Asked whether the last 16 against Jonny Clayton marks the turning point for Schindler in 2026, he was unequivocal: “No. It was the win over Damon Heta.”

Max Meintz, however, remained cautious: “You can’t say that yet. It was just one tournament—we’ll have to see how the next ones go.” He underscored the lack of consistency: “If there’s one thing Schindler hasn’t shown, it’s stability.” There had been good showings, such as at the UK Open, but he had not been able to build on them so far.

At the same time, Meintz highlighted the upside: “If he hits that match dart against Price in the quarterfinal, we don’t know how far he could have gone.” Against players like Wessel Nijman or Ross Smith, a lot would have been on the cards. His conclusion: “It was convincing, but I’d still say we should wait and see—even though it was his best weekend this year.”

For Fabian Dippold, the match against Damon Heta was the decisive turning point—or at least a release. “I’d even say there was one specific moment in that match,” he explained. The past few months had been “frustrating,” especially for Schindler himself.

The start against Heta reflected those issues. Schindler sprayed unusually, including Single 5, Single 1, and Treble 3. After three legs, he had already thrown 14 visits without a treble. Adrian Geiler added: Until the first 180 in the fourth leg, his average was only 65 points.

But that very 180 changed everything. “The next visit without a treble didn’t come until leg 7. After that 180, he completely flipped a switch and went on a tear,” analysed Dippold. That moment could be decisive for the future: “I walk onto the stage with a bad feeling and leave it with a good one—that’s very important for him.”

In fact, from that point Schindler averaged 108 and turned the match around in his favor. He finished with a 92 average, underscoring the massive in-game improvement.

Adrian Geiler put the shift into precise context once more: “After that 180, he played a 108 average to beat Damon Heta. He really should have been 0–4 down and was lucky Heta didn’t take his chances. In the end, it’s a 92 average.” That average in particular shows how strong Schindler performed after the poor start. For long stretches he had been under 70.

The win clearly unlocked something. “He completely took off after that win, because there had been so much negativity around him,” explained Geiler. Personal impressions backed it up: “I spoke with him in Neu-Ulm. He wasn’t euphoric, and neither was Denise. They know it’s not that easy right now.”

Schindler himself then spoke openly about the pressure. As a top-16 player, he may have taken on too much and was determined to live up to that status. The weak start to the season was the result, which he is now shedding step by step.

After the difficult opening against Heta came strong displays. In the 6-1 over Jonny Clayton he did benefit from a weaker opponent, but impressed with a 101 average. In the quarterfinal against Gerwyn Price he also produced a strong performance despite dented confidence.

The decider showed just how close Schindler came to the semifinals. On 130 he had a match dart, and a bouncer also prevented an even better position. “Then we don’t know if Gerwyn Price actually wins that match,” said Geiler.

External conditions made it tougher. The hard boards don’t suit Schindler’s throwing style particularly well. All the more notable that he sustained this level over an entire weekend. “To bring performances like that consistently to the board—that’s really quite significant,” emphasised Geiler.

It still isn’t a definitive turning point. The upcoming Players Championship events and the European Tour in Graz will show whether Schindler can confirm this form. What is clear, though: This weekend delivered not only vital prize money for the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, but above all new confidence.

Or, as the symbolic line goes: “I am Martin Schindler, I am Germany’s number one.”