“Dortmund’s always great – the crowd, the atmosphere, just brilliant” - Ricardo Pietreczko stuns Josh Rock to send German crowd crazy at European Championship

Ricardo Pietreczko pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the European Championship 2025 on Thursday night, defeating Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock 6–4 to reach the last 16 in Dortmund. The 31-year-old German, who continues to thrive on home soil, joins Martin Schindler as the second home favourite into the second round – and says he’s now “back and playing freely again.”

In front of a passionate German crowd, Pietreczko produced one of his finest major performances of the year to topple one of darts’ hottest young stars. “I think the last two years have shown that I seem to play pretty well in Dortmund,” he smiled in a post-match conversation with Dartsnews.de. “This time I actually know I’m in the second round – not like last year, when I didn’t even realise I’d made the quarter-finals!”

The win marks another milestone in a season of resurgence for the man known as Pikachu. With the Westfalenhalle crowd firmly behind him, Pietreczko looked sharp, composed and utterly at home. “Dortmund’s always great – the crowd, the atmosphere, everything about it is just brilliant,” he said.

The key moment came at 2–2, when Pietreczko held his nerve to check out 78 on the bullseye – a blow that stopped Rock in his tracks. “That 78 was really, really important,” he admitted. “Josh was waiting on a double, and I took it out – that was the key moment. You don’t really need to say much more about the game after that.”

Despite a nervy finish on double 10, Pietreczko was quick to laugh it off. “That last dart was a bit shaky, I’ll be honest,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter if it wobbles in or flies straight – I’ve won, and I’m in the second round.”

A 50% checkout rate and consistent scoring backed up one of Pietreczko’s most complete displays on the big stage. “I maybe messed up my finishing stats a little in the last few legs, but overall I’m completely happy,” he said. “It was good scoring from both of us. Josh had a few visits without a treble, but overall it was absolutely fine.”

He insisted that he pays no attention to reputations when he steps on stage. “It’s really all the same to me who I play. In the end, I’m playing against the board – yeah, five euros in the cliché jar, but it’s true. If you want to win a tournament, you’ve got to beat everyone.”

For Pietreczko, the win also carried personal meaning after a difficult few months off the oche. “The last time I played Josh on the European Tour, I lost, so it feels great to beat him now. It’s one of those little moments where you feel things are heading in the right direction again,” he said. “After moving within Hanover, things were a bit stressful. But now everything’s sorted. I’m back and can play freely again.”

Pietreczko will now face Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena in the last 16 – a match he’s relishing, even if it’s not the all-German showdown he’d secretly hoped for. “I actually would’ve liked an all-German match,” he admitted. “But Jermaine’s a good player and deserved his win. I’m looking forward to it.”

With confidence returning and the Dortmund crowd firmly behind him, Pikachu looks ready to light up another night on the European Championship stage.