Despite defeat, Schindler is highly motivated: "It's exactly the level where I want to be"

For Martin Schindler the third round of the PDC World Darts Championship proved to be a dead end. In a high class match he only lost to Michael Smith with 3-4.

In the decider of the fifth set The Wall had the chance to win the match but hit the big five with 121 points left. He had no chance to win the leg and the match as his English opponent took his chance and checked 72 to win the set.

"I was aware of the situation that I had him on the line straight away, as they say, but somehow the win was within my grasp and somehow not. The 121 points, okay. It was also off the back with the last dart. It was a bit annoying", Schidnler said in the interview with Elmar Paulke afterwards.

As the World Darts Championship is played in set mode, this small mistake proved to be particularly fatal. For Schindler that is no excuse: "That was exactly what I trained for. Exactly this tournament, exactly this timing, the scores and the finishes when you need them. I have to say quite honestly, I had great moments at this World Cup, even though I only played two games. It bore a lot of fruits. Definitely. It was unlucky, of course. And yes, set mode is brutal too, of course. One moment you're only 121 points away, the next moment you have to get the 501 to zero again three times first and faster than your opponent."

The German took the fourth set in four legs, breaking Smith's leg on double 14 to go 3-1 up in sets. According to Schindler, this was the point where he felt he could beat Bully Boy.

"I walk off the stage and I know, 'So, now win another Best of 5 and I'm through.' And such a Best of 5, as short as it is, suddenly becomes brutally long. It's madness! I know I had really good moments and I also feel good about shaping this game from the front, but of course I also have to bring it to zero and unfortunately I didn't do that. It's annoying, but honestly, I think there are a lot more positives than negatives."

The 2023 World Darts Championship is the first World Championship in which Schindler could win a match. With the match he played against Smith he showed that he can bring even top seeded players to the brink of defeat. The Wall wants to take that good feeling with him for 2023. "I'm absolutely aware of the situation that 2022 was a really great year, but I'm not going to rest on my laurels now and try to build on 2022 again," he stated with finality.

"As I said, there are a lot of positives that I will take away. It's just, to be honest, it's exactly the level where I want to be. These guys like Michael Smith - and he's one of the best players in the world. It might sound arrogant now, but I think a lot of other people wouldn't have turned this game around. But he just did it with his experience, with his playing strength. As I said, that's exactly the level where I want to go. I have to continue right there."

Finally, Schindler commented on the match that awaits Gabriel Clemens in the round of 16: "Against Alan Soutar, of course that's easier said than done."

"He (Clemens) will need a match like the one against Jim Williams, because Soutar, as an outsider, is also totally hungry and totally motivated. I think he won't be that easy. But of course, in terms of names, it's a top draw. But that's always a thing. Name is not always everything."