German duo sets darts team record with 4-0 World Cup opener, Schindler roars at Pietreczko's critics: 'absolutely shitty'
Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko delivered the best performance ever by a German doubles pair at the PDC World Cup of Darts, then Schindler fiercely defended his partner against critics.
Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko launched their World Cup of Darts campaign with a commanding 4-0 win over the Philippines in Frankfurt on Thursday, setting a new German record for a doubles pair. The duo posted a combined average of 101.9 points per three darts, shattering the previous mark of 96.35 set by Gabriel Clemens and Max Hopp in 2020. Schindler, in particular, was dominant, landing two 180s and scoring consistently with at least two treble visits per leg. The win came amid intense scrutiny of Pietreczko, who has struggled this year and acknowledged symptoms of 'dartitis', a mental block that affects dart release.
A record-breaking performance
In the Eissporthalle Frankfurt, the German pair needed just four legs to dispatch Alexis Toylo and Paolo Nebrida. Four successful checkouts from six attempts underlined their clinical finishing. The 101.9 average is a new high-water mark for any German doubles combination at this PDC event, eclipsing the 96.35 standard that had stood since 2020.
- Schindler/Pietreczko (2026)
- 101.9
- Clemens/Hopp (2020)
- 96.35
Schindler hits out at critics
Speaking after the match, the world number 19 did not hold back when asked about the pressure on his partner.
Pietreczko, known as 'Pikachu' and ranked second in Germany behind Schindler, had been a controversial selection after a series of poor results in 2026 linked to dartitis.I have to say, I find it really presumptuous and, if I may say so, absolutely shitty that people from outside take it upon themselves to judge this situation.
Looking ahead
Germany can book a place in the last 16 with a win over New Zealand on Friday in their three-team group.
the 31-year-old said. Top seeds — England featuring world champion Luke Littler, Scotland, the Netherlands, and Northern Ireland — enter the tournament in the knockout stage after byes. Last year, Schindler and Pietreczko sensationally knocked out Littler and Luke Humphries in the second round before reaching the semi-finals. The 2026 winning pair will collect £100,000 (roughly €115,000).It can keep going like this,
