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Super Schindler Lifts First PDC Title

Super Schindler Lifts First PDC Title On Euro Tour

Alex Moss |

 

A Week In Darts – April 15, 2024 – Schindler Wins Maiden PDC Title In Riesa

A new name was added to the European Tour roll of honour at the weekend after Martin Schindler became just the third German to win a PDC senior title. Here’s our look back at how the action unfolded in Riesa, along with all the other events in the darting world over the last seven days…

SCHINDLER JOINS EURO TOUR ROLL OF HONOUR

Germany’s Martin Schindler delighted the home crowd in Riesa to win the International Darts Open and his first PDC senior title on Sunday night.

‘The Wall’ overcame world number five Gerwyn Price 8-5 in the final at the WT Energiesysteme Arena, as he followed in the footsteps of Max Hopp and Ricardo Pietreczko to become the third German to win a title on the professional circuit.

The 27-year-old, who previously worked as a steward on the European Tour a decade ago, was in fine form all weekend as he posted 95+ averages in all six of his games to pocket the £30,000 top prize.

After easing past his fellow German Jan Dueckers in the first round on Friday, Schindler booked his spot in Sunday’s final day of action with a 6-3 victory over Joe Cullen, a match which saw him average 105.

A 6-1 demolition of Richard Veenstra took ‘The Wall’ into the quarter-finals, where he edged past Danny Noppert 6-5, before reaching his first European Tour final with a 7-3 triumph against Chris Dobey.

Price, a four-time title winner in Riesa, went 2-0 and 4-3 up in the decider, but Schindler responded each time, winning three straight legs to go 3-2 in front and then four legs on the spin for a 7-4 lead.

A 12-dart hold of throw kept Price’s hopes alive, before Schindler wrapped up the title with a 48 finish in two darts to clinch his maiden senior title on home soil.

“My knees are shaking right now,” said Schindler, who is now Germany’s new number one after climbing to a career-high of world number 22.

“It’s just crazy. I’ve been playing this tour for seven to eight years now. It’s been such a long journey, and now I’m standing here with one of these beautiful trophies.

“I could never have dreamed of this 10 years ago, but I have worked so hard for this, I’ve invested so much and right now, I might just be the happiest man on earth.”

Elsewhere, it was a weekend to remember for Ritchie Edhouse who made it through to the quarter-finals in Riesa – his best run on the European Tour since 2018.

‘Madhouse’, who was using the Mission Force 90 integrated flight and shaft system, took out an incredible 160 finish to beat Michael Smith 6-5 in a deciding leg in the second round.

He went on to average 103 in a 6-4 victory over Rob Cross, but came unstuck in a decider against Stephen Bunting in the last eight.

VAN GERWEN DENIES LITTLER IN PREMIER LEAGUE

Michael van Gerwen returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a nightly title win in Birmingham last Thursday.

The reigning Premier League champion had lost six of his last seven matches in the competition heading into night 11 at the Utilita Arena.

But the Dutchman bounced back with wins against Nathan Aspinall, Michael Smith and Luke Littler helping him to a five-point haul which moved him up to third in the table.

Littler was bidding for a third consecutive nightly win in the Premier League, but was denied by van Gerwen, who ran out a 6-3 winner to scoop the £10,000 weekly bonus.

“I have made it a little bit hard for myself, but the most important thing is how you bounce back, and how do you reflect on the last few weeks.

“We all know the last few weeks have not been great for me, but to come back with a win here tonight feels good.

“I believe in my own ability. You need to make sure you stay focused and that’s what I’ve done, but there’s still more to come.”

NINE-DART SPELLMAN CONQUERS THE CROSS BORDER CHALLENGE

Alex Spellman is heading back to Madison Square Garden next month after winning the Cross Border Challenge in Michigan City.

The second-annual staging of the CDC event saw many of the top players from North America in action, as eight Americans and eight Canadians faced off over two days for the title.

Spellman put down an early marker on Saturday, averaging 97 and throwing a nine-dart leg in a 5-2 win over Sylvain Bourdeau.

His run continued with another 5-2 success over Keith Way, before coming through two last-leg deciders to win the title and earn a spot in the US Darts Masters in New York.

After edging past Jake Macmillan 6-5 in the semi-finals, Spellman looked on course for the title as he moved 6-3 up on David Cameron in the final.

Cameron fought back and won the next three legs to force a decider, as his opponent missed three match darts, but Spellman opened up with a 177 in the last leg and hit double eight to get over the line.

Spellman joins fellow Americans Jules van Dongen, Danny Lauby and Stowe Buntz in the 16-player field for next month’s US Darts Masters, a World Series event which takes place at the Hulu Theatre, at Madison Square Garden, from May 31 to June 1.

DOUBLE FOR SELF TAKES HIM TO THE TOP OF JDC RANKINGS

Archie Self leads the way at the halfway stage of this year’s JDC Advanced Tour after winning two titles at the weekend.

The 14-year-old won Events 6 and 8 to establish a one-point lead at the top of the rankings after eight events.

An all-Mission top three sees Kieran Thompson (21 points) and Daniel Stephenson (19) close behind, with Thompson picking up another title with a victory in Event 5.

Cayden Smith won his first Advanced Tour title with a victory in Event 7, beating Thompson in the final to deny his opponent a weekend double.

Pictures: PDC

Alex Moss is a content creator for Darts Corner and the co-host of the Weekly Dartscast podcast. Alex co-founded the Weekly Dartscast in 2017 and has helped produce 350+ episodes of the podcast, with their list of previous guests on the show a who’s who in the world of darts.

Alex also writes content for the Darts Corner blog, including the weekly darts news round-ups and how-to guides.

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