Martin Schindler will return to the PDC World Darts Championship after Christmas. In his opening match against Martin Lukeman The Wall managed to win 3-1 in sets and progressed into the last 32.
For Schindler a very special event. This victory was the first he has ever won at the "Ally Pally". "I was aware of the situation. I was aware that I have never won here before and maybe I should take this step now and dare to win a match. But it's something else to be aware of what it looks like and just to win," he explained in the subsequent interview with Elmar Paulke on DAZN.
"I felt good, I still feel good. I played really good darts as well. I would have been really disappointed again if I would have gone out of here again."
Big Fish
The Wall took the third set of the match thanks to a 170 finish to break his English opponent's leg in 12 darts. "It definitely made that second winning set safe for me. Also just at the back Lukeman never really stopped. And I had to grab those moments to win that game. I'm really happy about that, especially up there (on stage, editor's note)."
"Honestly: 170 or not, I found the 92 much more awesome!", he adds to his analysis afterwards with a laugh. With this the German alludes to the finish with which he won the match. He checked 92 over double 14 in an unusual way: "I'm a machine on double 14. I was wondering why I missed three darts at 28."
"Double 14 is one of those doubles where I say I hit that well. I know I'm good on it and I thought to myself, should I hit the bullseye now at 92, 10 or 6 or just 14, double 14 - where I tell myself a dart in hand for double 14 is easier than a dart in hand for double 16."
Booed
During Schindler's walk on, the first boos were heard from the audience. Schindler was taken aback by this, but could understand the fans: "I didn't expect that. Of course, on the European Tour it's the other way round. As a German you are supported by the Germans, here in England you are supported by the English fans. Thank God the point has come for me that I am seeded. That means I was already the favourite. Accordingly, the fans were for Lukeman and not for me."
Smith
Finally, The Wall comments on Michael Smith, who he will face after Christmas: "I'm absolutely aware that I can beat someone like Michael Smith. It's not going to be easy, I don't expect it to be easy. But if I'm able to hit my scoring and my finishes up there like that, I think I'll be able to be a threat to him. But whether it will actually happen remains to be seen."