“I have never seen so much humanity”- Ricardo Pietreczko speaks about dartitis low point
PDCMonday, 10 August 2026 at 08:40
In the run-up to the World Cup of Darts, Ricardo Pietreczko went through one of the toughest spells of his career so far. Germany’s number two was battling dartitis. At the same time, voices grew louder demanding that “Pikachu” give up his World Cup spot to Niko Springer.
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In the newly launched podcast “Zwischen Donnerschlag und Hinkelstein”, Pietreczko has now spoken in detail about this difficult period. Together with his partner Lena and fan icon Obelix, the German reflected on his throwing issues, his withdrawal in Hildesheim, and the subsequent support within the PDC.
Pietreczko seeks help from a mental coach
Right at the start of the podcast, the focus was on how Pietreczko himself had experienced those tough weeks. The German particularly highlighted his new collaboration with mental coach Johannes Lipsius.
“I always used to say I consider myself mentally strong enough that I don’t need mental coaching or anything like that,” Pietreczko explained. He had previously rejected such an arrangement.
Obelix stressed that Pietreczko ultimately realized he could not overcome the crisis on his own. With the World Cup of Darts drawing ever closer, the pressure to act kept growing.
Lena, the PDC pro’s partner for several years, also looked back on the development. For some time she had felt that Pietreczko could get more out of his game with a different approach.
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“So in the last one and a half years, without specifically targeting throwing issues or anything, I always said: I believe there’s more to be extracted from your ability and talent than there was at that point. I kept saying I think if you find a different approach, handle things a bit differently, there would definitely be more possible.”
Pietreczko himself did not consider professional support necessary for a long time. At the same time, he knew mental coaching only works if he truly commits to it. Lena praised her partner for how openly he embraced the new task and worked on himself. The weeks were extremely demanding both in terms of play and mentally.
“After every match I was just spent”
The strain became evident, among other things, at the European Tour event in Riesa. There, despite his issues, Pietreczko reached the last 16.
“After every match I was just spent, because I had to make this compensatory movement to trick my head,” the German recalled.
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The unusual motion during his throw did not escape the fans either. Pietreczko himself drew a comparison with former Dutch pro Co Stompé.
Reached the last 16 in Riesa after a 6-5 win over Danny Noppert: Ricardo Pietreczko
Pietreczko explained that his normally very fluid throw suddenly looked completely different due to the problems. To work around the dartitis, he deliberately built an extra movement into his action. The aim was to trick his head and prevent the block from setting in during the actual release. The movement was so striking that he was jokingly referred to as the “second Co Stompé” for a while.
Pietreczko came up with this compensatory move himself. He had previously struggled with dartitis and back then had even used a more pronounced movement.
The idea behind it was unusual, but helpful for Pietreczko at that moment: with the added motion, he wanted to trick his mind and avoid consciously initiating the actual throw.
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Match abandoned in Hildesheim: “That was super hard to watch”
Pietreczko hit his emotional low roughly six weeks before the World Cup of Darts at a Players Championship event in Hildesheim. The problems were so severe that he ultimately had to abandon his match against Jeffrey de Zwaan.
Lena was also in Hildesheim that day and witnessed up close how her partner battled himself at the board.
“That was super hard to watch, standing behind you as you fought at the board, how you weren’t really fighting it out through your play anymore, but just trying to get through it. Up to the decision to stop, and then seeing you afterwards, was really, really tough, because it obviously took such an emotional toll on you in that moment.”
The situation was difficult for her as well. “I wouldn’t have been able to help. And then seeing how your colleagues reacted afterwards.”
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Even Pietreczko’s opponent Jeffrey de Zwaan initially did not know how to handle the situation. Obelix also reported that there were tears at the board for Pietreczko.
What happened next stuck with all three podcast participants in particular.
“But I’ve also never seen so much humanity at the PDC,” said Pietreczko.
Doets, Lukeman and van Duijvenbode offer help immediately
Right after the match was abandoned, the German received support from numerous rivals. Lena described how players approached Pietreczko within seconds and offered help.
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“But also seeing how much help you were offered afterwards. Immediately after, 30 seconds after the abandonment, a lot of players came to you and gave you tips straight away. Kevin Doets came right over and said: Try some acupuncture. Martin Lukeman was straight in: Try practicing in a longsleeve.”
The reaction from Dirk van Duijvenbode was particularly emotional.
“Dirk van Duijvenbode came and just hugged you. I saw that from farther away. He just hugged you and said, ‘Mate, it’ll come back.’”
Thomas Lovely also reached out to Pietreczko immediately. His father, Eddie Lovely, had his own experience with dartitis. As a result, Pietreczko received further support via email as well as audio coaching and files with tips on dealing with the throwing issues.
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Nathan Aspinall also spots Pietreczko’s problems early
Another prominent player had already noticed something was wrong with “Pikachu.” Nathan Aspinall spoke to Pietreczko in Munich when the issues, especially with the third dart, began to surface.
“I find that so crazy. Nathan Aspinall, who already came up to you in Munich and said, because it was already showing and slowly starting with the twitch on the third dart, he came: ‘Boy, what’s up? You know you can always talk to me.’”
For Lena, this reaction showed how closely connected the players can be despite sporting rivalry.
“People came over and said: ‘Look, you’re not alone, we won’t let you down.’ Even if they’re rivals and opponents, they’re still people who wanted to help. And I found that incredibly powerful to see.”
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Pietreczko himself drew a similar conclusion: “But as much humanity as right after Hildesheim, I’ve never seen so much humanity.”
Pietreczko thanks Martin Schindler for support before the World Cup of Darts
Martin Schindler played a special role during this difficult phase. Together with Pietreczko, the German world No. 1 formed the team at the World Cup of Darts. Despite all the discussion about Pietreczko’s condition, Schindler backed his teammate.
“Props to Martin Schindler, who also said he supports me no matter what I do, whether I play the World Cup or whether I don’t play the World Cup.”
Pietreczko had repeatedly assured Schindler he would be ready for the World Cup in time. Given his issues, however, there could be no guarantee.
| Germany at the World Cup of Darts 2026 | |||
| Round | Opponent | Result | Average |
| Group stage | Philippines | 4-0 | 101.90 |
| Group stage | New Zealand | 4-2 | 84.12 |
| Last 16 | Czech Republic | 8-6 | 92.09 |
| Quarterfinals | Netherlands | 4-8 | 96.58 |
“I also told him at any time I’d be one hundred percent fit for the World Cup. Of course I couldn’t be one hundred percent sure. But I just wanted to play this World Cup, because with Martin by my side – it just clicks on stage.”
Accordingly, Pietreczko made his wish clear: “I always said I’m fit for the World Cup.”
Schindler’s public reaction after the German team’s first match also stayed with Pietreczko. Schindler had firmly opposed the debate surrounding his teammate’s participation.
“I also have to say, the interview he did after the first match, where he gave the media a broadside about how there could even be a debate here, and that it’s my decision and he thinks my decision is very cool. Thank you, Martin.”
For Pietreczko, it marked the end of a phase in which it was no longer just about results on stage. What stuck with him most, however, was his colleagues’ response: In his toughest moment, direct rivals became supporters.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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