With seven quarter-final appearances and one title win after eleven tournaments, it was already clear before the Swiss Darts Trophy 2024 that Martin Schindler's European Tour campaign would go down in German darts history. But The Wall still had an ace up his sleeve and experienced his own personal Basel miracle in the St. Jakobshalle.
After defeating Anton Östlund (6-1) and Stephen Bunting (6-4), Schindler reached the final session of a European Tour tournament for the seventh time this season. Thanks to a spectacular 160 checkout against Raymond van Barneveld (6-4), The Wall then progressed to the semi-finals of the Swiss Darts Trophy, where he dispatched Josh Rock 7-2.
Despite his brilliant run to the final, Schindler had no chance against his opponent Ryan Searle at the start of the final. Heavy Metal marched into a 4-0 lead and made it clear that the wait for his first European Tour title would come to an end on Sunday evening. But Schindler continued to believe in victory and, after trailing 7-4 at one stage, equalized to 7-7. After Searle missed seven match darts in dramatic fashion, Schindler played an outstanding decider and returned to the oche with a grin on his face and 32 points remaining. The Wall converted his third dart at double 16 to become the first German player to hold two European titles.
"I had the feeling from the outset that I had the potential and the game to keep up with Ryan. But I'll be honest: I was happy to win this final," Schindler told Philip Brzezinski a few moments after winning the title. While the defeated finalist Searle completed his interview duties, Schindler could be seen in the background letting his tears and emotions run free. "I still don't take winning titles for granted," Schindler
told Sport1.
"I'm aware that it always looks so relaxed with the others. But it's just not like that for me yet. I also don't know whether it can or perhaps should ever be like that," added the 28-year-old. However, Schindler fans need not fear any less emotional images in the future: "Winning the title is ultimately confirmation of the work of the past few years. That's the reason why it probably won't be without tears in the future either."
A special connection to the European Tour
It's a picture that went around the darts world after Schindler's first title win in April: Martin Schindler in action on the European Tour - not as a player on stage, however, but as a steward at ticket control. "Ten years ago, I was standing in front of the entrance doors at these tournaments. I've worked my ass off to be here today," said The Wall in an interview after the final.
However, the European Tour has also had a significant impact on Schindler's career to date from a purely sporting perspective. After the Strausberg native impressively reclaimed his Tour Card at Q-School in 2021, he regularly attracted attention on the European Tour stage a year later. At the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich, he defeated Ryan Searle 6-1 with an average of 109 points, which qualified Schindler for the quarter-finals. In the following weeks, he reached the round of 16 in Leverkusen and marched into the quarter-finals in Stuttgart - it was to be the final breakthrough for the future German number one.
International recognition
Back at the beginning of April, darts expert
Wayne Mardle explained via X that he considers Martin Schindler to be the "most underrated / underrated darts player on the tour". A few months and two titles later, Hawaii 501 should feel vindicated in his assumption.
"He's a complete package, he's a very, very good player. And he's a player who performs at his best on the big stage," says Burton DeWitt in the latest episode of the Weekly Dartscast podcast. "He's showing that he can beat almost any player on the European Tour stage - now it's time to do it on the Major stage. A Major title or a final appearance in the big tournaments in the coming weeks could even earn him a place in the Premier League," added DeWitt.
