"Defending the title? Absolutely, I’d love to - Martin Schindler sets his sights on a third European Tour title

Martin Schindler began his title defence at the 2025 International Darts Open in style on Friday evening, producing a commanding 6-2 victory over Thomas Lovely. "The Wall" not only impressed with a high-quality performance but also found fortune on his side as Rob Cross was forced to withdraw due to illness, propelling Schindler directly into the final day of the tournament after just one match.

“I was already thinking about it in the first hour or two,” Schindler said of the unexpected news, “but you can’t see it as a threat or let it faze you. You’ve just got to take it in your stride. It’s a great opportunity and extra motivation—that’s how I looked at it.”
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Schindler remained realistic about the implications of an unexpected break. “Maybe a day off like this is an advantage, maybe not—you never really know. It’s good for me, but I’ll need to perform on Sunday, that’s what matters most,” he added, before joking with the crowd, “Guess I’ll go explore a bit of Saxony, eh?”

Before thoughts could turn to sightseeing along the Elbe, Schindler had to endure a demanding opener against a spirited Thomas Lovely. The Englishman showcased powerful scoring and gave the German no room to relax.

Martin Schindler could become the first German in PDC history to defend a European Tour title

“Credit to Thomas—he played really, really well and kept the pressure on. Thank God I was able to handle it today,” Schindler reflected after the match.

Riesa’s Sachsen Arena holds special memories for Schindler, having lifted his maiden PDC title there just last year. “Defending the title? Absolutely, I’d love to,” he said with a smile.

But for now, Schindler’s focus remains on Sunday’s round of 16, where he’ll meet the winner of the clash between Dimitri Van den Bergh and Thibault Tricole.

“I always say—don’t get ahead of yourself. That was step one today, and we move on the day after tomorrow,” Schindler concluded.

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