Martin Schindler opens up on tough season after 'emotional' win as German No.1 closes in on European Championship

EMOTIONAL Martin Schindler admits he looked his fear in the eye before surging towards Dortmund.

The German star did not hide his feelings after bagging a crucial success over Karel Sedlacek at the Dutch Darts Championship.

Schindler's victory in the last 32 tie was monumental in terms of his chances of reaching next weekend's European Championship Finals in his homeland.

The Wall's win over the Czechia ace has virtually punched his ticket to the big one and the 30-year-old told it straight afterwards in Maastricht.

Schindler said: "Obviously, the situation with the European Darts Championship Finals is as it is. I'm not in the very best kind of face at the moment, so I need to fight for every win and it wasn't happening for me in the European Tour for a couple of weeks, months now.

"I was never like doubting myself or distrusting myself. I was believing in it, but it was just not happening. Obviously, I know I needed to win and I prepared myself.

"I looked my fear in the eye and I won that one, I was happy about it, really.

"I'm feeling emotional. It was a really, really important win for me and I am happy. I really tried to focus and I am over the moon at the moment."

Schindler and Sedlacek served up some superb darts to kick off the Saturday afternoon action with a host of ton-plus finishes on the menu.

There were also some strange moments, such as the victor missing the board altogether with the opening dart of a second-leg combination aimed at single 19 before taking out the 59 finish with his next two.

However, it was sandwiched between diamond out-shots of 164 and 120 before the Czech missed 10 darts at double on throw to edge into a 4-3 lead in the pivotal seventh leg and the subsequent Schindler break proved decisive.

Schindler said: "This leg was a bad leg from the both of us, we couldn't hit our doubles, which was on the better side for me in the end. But I have to say the game is 11 legs and not just only one."

Sedlacek had more chances during a strong showing of his own which landed him constant chances, but Schindler came through by a final 6-4 scoreline and moves into Sunday's shootout with Dortmund firmly in his grasp.

Image: Jenny Segers/PDC Europe