Schmutzler dreaming of potential Van Barneveld draw at World Championship: "It could be the cherry on the top"

Fabian Schmutzler was a real success story of the final European Development Tour weekend with the 16-year-old only old enough to play in the last weekend surging through to claim the World Championship spot.

In his first interview after winning the spot, he summed up the weekend and how the Development Tour had always been his goal.

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"On Sunday, I was with my friends in the restaurant and I was so happy. I have got so many messages on my phone of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, I can't even answer everyone. I am so happy that I did this and I can't believe I've done this. I didn't even think about it before I started the Development Tour and I can't believe I got so far," he said to Weekly Dartscast.

"At the start of the year, I'd seen that the PDC have this two tournaments, one in August, one in November and I posted on Instagram on January that I'd be making my debut in November and I done it so it was the plan from the beginning that I'd play in November and not wait till next year."

Awaiting the result

It wasn't all confirmed till the final event for the young German and he discussed finding out that he was in the running for that spot.

"I was really happy with tournament one. I didn't expect I'd get so far, I was a little bit devastated with 45 in the final, I missed it and Rusty-Jake took the break. But everything was fine and better than I thought."

"On the semi-final on the first event on Sunday, my Mum comes to me that if I keep going on, I will have the second spot. I didn't know the second spot even have the space for the Alexandra Palace.

"I won this game against Tomas Houdek in the semi-final, the final against Gawlas wasn't the best game but I knew at that point that there were only three players that could reach me but one of them had to win."

Future plans

He isn't getting carried away though with this debut with the plan to stay in school and go for a profession with darts maybe taking over if he does well.

"I have three years in my school and then I may start to be a teacher, that's the plan. Darts is in second place, but if I keep on like that, there is a career that can be made."

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Potential draw

With the date and time now known for the draw, a potential tie with Raymond van Barneveld could await which he is potentially dreaming of.

"Raymond is also my idol. It could be the cherry on the top if I play against him. It doesn't matter to me how I play, I just want to enjoy the moment and the stage at the Alexandra Palace."