"Some people hate me after the Grand Slam" - Ricardo Pietreczko regrets taking on the crowd in Wolverhampton

Ricardo Pietreczko has qualified for the second round of the Players Championship Finals. 'Pikachu' defeated Christian Kist 6-1 in his opening match.

Pietreczko did not even have to reach his best level to easily floor the injury-suffering Kist. The 29-year-old German himself only averaged 87.33. "My feeling is not good," Pietreczko admitted to Online Darts. "The hall is not warm, it's a little bit cold but yeah, I tried my very best to perform on the stage here."

NEW: Go to our LIVE SCORE to follow the Players Championship Finals 2023!!

Pietreczko caused a stir last week at the Grand Slam of Darts. During his group match against Beau Greaves, he was whistled at by the crowd, to which he responded with all sorts of arm gestures, prompting the crowd to boo even more. "I uh yeah, I can't fight with the crowd and yeah it's this experience that I need," Pietreczko admits. "Some people hate me after the Grand Slam but many people understand me."

Pietreczko will take on Ryan Searle in the second round of the Players Championship Finals, who was too strong for Boris Krcmar in his opening match, 6-4.