“If you win, you’re the hero. If you lose, you’re the bad guy. It’s disgusting” - Martin Schindler warns German media over pressuring of Niko Springer

Martin Schindler left a strong impression at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship with a convincing 3-1 victory over Stephen Burton. Averaging just under 99, the German delivered one of his best performances to date on the World Championship stage at Alexandra Palace.

It was a display built on control, timing and clinical finishing, exactly how Schindler himself assessed it after stepping off stage. “I have to say I think I played quite good,” he said afterwards. “I hit a couple of 180s when it mattered most, and in the end my finishing was very on point as well.”

It was a typically measured assessment from Schindler, offering realism rather than excessive emotion.

Despite the convincing scoreline, the match was far from straightforward. Schindler made it clear he had not underestimated Stephen Burton. “I was aware of the fact that he’s not a player to be underestimated,” he explained.

That was especially evident in the second set, when missed opportunities were immediately punished. “I was punished straight away in the second set when I missed a couple of chances and he went bang, bang, bang straight through it.”

For Schindler, that moment served as a reminder of the standards required at this level. “But in the end I think I played well and I need to carry on with that.”

As is often the case for German players at Alexandra Palace, the crowd reaction was mixed. Schindler admitted that boos during the walk-on have become familiar. “I have to say, for a couple of years now, every time there’s a walk-on I get booed. People are always going to boo me when there’s a walk-on.”

Still, there was also clear German support inside the venue. “Like today, you always hear maybe 200 people from Germany singing your name and singing the anthem,” he said. “I can only assume there were 200, 300, maybe 400 or 500 people from Germany here, and they made it feel a bit like a European Tour event for me, singing ‘Mit Schindler’.”

That backing made a difference. “It was a good experience,” he added.

At the same time, Schindler remains pragmatic about the hostile elements. “If they’re going to boo me, I need to deal with that. I really understand if they do it.”

A notable part of Schindler’s preparation came earlier this year, when he adjusted his practice setup to better replicate television stage conditions. Having spoken previously about the darker lighting on Sky Sports stages, he deliberately adapted his training environment ahead of the Worlds. “I had one softbox and one LED lamp to dim the light a little bit,” he explained.

He believes the difference is significant. “With a normal light ring around the board everything is bright and you don’t have any shadows. On stage you don’t really have shadows either, but you do have darker light, if that makes sense.”

That was exactly what he aimed to recreate. “That’s what I tried to replicate. And yeah, I guess it worked.”

Asked whether he prefers facing bigger names to sharpen his focus, Schindler was refreshingly honest. “Honestly, I think everybody prefers to play against a lower name in the rankings,” he admitted.

But he was clear that it should never change the approach. “In the end you need to play your own game and focus on your scoring and your finishing. That’s the most important thing.”

The conclusion, in his view, is simple. “If you want to be one of the best, you need to beat everybody.”

A more delicate topic was the situation of fellow German Niko Springer, who arrived at the Worlds amid significant hype but struggled under the spotlight. Schindler spoke openly about the pressures facing his younger compatriot. “Niko has done some really good stuff this year. He really has,” he said.

But the praise has come with consequences. “The pressure he’s receiving is massive,” Schindler explained, pointing to public comments from players such as Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen describing Springer as the best German player. “That puts a lot of pressure on him.”

Schindler also highlighted the role of German media and fans. “He also gets pressure from German fans and German media saying he’s had a great year, great averages, and now he’s going to the Worlds and going to achieve this and that.”

Given Springer’s age, Schindler believes patience is essential. “He’s just 24, maybe 25, and he needs to grow. He needs to get used to the situation, the same way I had to learn it.”

He was particularly critical of how quickly support can turn. “You don’t really get support unless you’re successful. If you win, you’re the hero. If you lose, you’re the bad guy. It’s disgusting.”

According to Schindler, Springer was clearly playing under too much pressure. “He was playing under a lot of pressure that a guy in his first Q School year really shouldn’t have.”

Although Schindler has not yet spoken directly with Springer, he was clear on what advice he would offer. “The only advice I can give is to look at yourself and the game you’re playing, not what you might achieve or all the ‘what ifs’.”

His message was straightforward. “Focus on what you’re good at, try to improve what you’re bad at, and that’s all you can do.”