“I always told Martin: I’m fit to stay here, and I’ll show why" – Ricardo Pietreczko overcomes difficult period with convincing German performance at the World Cup of Darts

Germany made an excellent start to the World Cup of Darts. Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko cruised past the Philippines in the group stage and immediately showed with a 4-0 victory that they must be taken seriously again.

After the match, the two Germans spoke to the press looking relaxed and satisfied. For Pietreczko in particular, the win felt like an important affirmation after a difficult spell in which his form and confidence were under pressure.

“I would say we are feeling very good about the win,” Schindler said afterwards. “Both of us have been very good when we needed to. I can speak for myself: I tried to do my very best, and I think I put him on a very manageable finish when he needed to. He took them all out. From my point of view, it was a very good game. I’m looking forward to tomorrow."

Pietreczko also visibly enjoyed the German duo’s display. “For me too," he said. "I throw my 100, you throw your 180. It’s a good harmony on the stage.”

For Pietreczko, the performance in Frankfurt meant more than just a win. The German endured a rough period over the past six to seven weeks, with disappointing results and a level of play below his own standards.

Even so, he kept faith in a successful World Cup. “It's been very difficult,” Pietreczko admitted candidly. “But every time I say to Martin, I’m fit for the World Cup and I’m here to play my game.”

The 30-year-old German explained that he has received a lot of support from his mental coach during that challenging phase. “I’ve worked hard with my mental coach. I thank Johannes for helping me find my game again and showing it on stage.”

Despite the tough spell, Pietreczko never considered withdrawing from the national team event. “No, I don’t think about not playing the World Cup,” he emphasised. “I always told Martin: I’m fit to stay here, and I’ll show why.”

The first signs of recovery were already visible during a recent Euro Tour, where Pietreczko defeated Mike De Decker and Danny Noppert among others. Those results came at the perfect time, right before the World Cup. “It was very comfortable for me to win two games on the Euro Tour before the World Cup,” he said. “I think it was very important for me.”

Pietreczko experimented recently with adjustments to his game, but appears to have returned to the approach that previously brought success. “I can beat people with my new style. Now I’m back to my old style.”

Schindler has been the figurehead of German darts for several years and naturally takes on a leading role within the team. However, he does not see himself as someone constantly issuing instructions to his partner.

When asked if he is acting more than ever as captain to support Pietreczko, he replied with a smile. “I always try to be the captain… Captain Jack Sparrow,” Schindler joked.

He then explained how he views his role within the team. “To be honest, we are only a two-man team. I always try to be someone who says: do whatever you like. I will be there and try to do my best, and you do your best.”

According to Schindler, success in the pairs event is mainly about mutual trust. “ That’s what I try to do. That’s what I told him, what I told Gabriel, what I told Max. Only focus on your own game. I will play my game. We will review everything afterwards.”

He believes trust within the German team is one of its main weapons. “I trust you, you trust me. That’s what I said to the Belgium guys: I trust him, he trusts me. That’s one thing.”

Last year, Germany produced one of the tournament’s biggest shocks by eliminating the English super duo Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. As a result, Schindler was immediately asked at the press conference whether he would like a rematch with England.

His answer was clear. “Why not?” he said. “If we get drawn against them, we will try our best to beat them. If we meet them in the final and both reach the final, then we try to beat them again.”

Schindler does expect that Littler in particular will have learned from last year’s defeat. “I definitely think Luke Littler will be more prepared. Luke Humphries already seemed prepared last year.”

Yet he stressed that the World Cup is a very different event from the individual tournaments where Humphries and Littler usually dominate. “ For them it must be a difficult situation. They are world number one and two, always fighting for titles in the Premier League and other events.”

Schindler has great respect for the level of the English stars, but also sees opportunities once it becomes pairs darts. “Compared to them, it’s almost like a hobby for us,” he said with a laugh. “Of course we earn our money from it, but they are playing at a very high and consistent level. I respect that. But here at the World Cup, it’s something different.”

Still, he believes that means little once the World Cup starts. “I give them all the credit for that. But here at the World Cup, it’s something totally different.”