SCHINDLER REVEALS PIETRECZKO’S WORLD CUP PROMISE AMID DARTITIS BATTLE

MARTIN SCHINDLER has backed Ricardo Pietreczko to overcome dartitis after revealing his partner vowed to be “fit again” for the World Cup.

Germany head into this week’s tournament in Frankfurt looking to build on last year’s stunning run to the semi-finals, which included a famous 8-4 victory over England.

But Schindler has failed to reach a televised quarter-final in 2025, while Pietreczko has struggled badly with the yips.

In fact, Pietreczko’s last three-figure average came back in September 2025, despite losing 6-3 to Josh Rock in the second round of the Hungarian Darts Trophy.

World No19 Schindler admitted he did not initially realise the extent of his teammate’s problems.

He told SID: “I believe dartitis is really one of those things—if you’re not in it yourself, or you’ve never had it, you don’t really know how it feels or what it’s like.

“At first, when the problem started, I didn’t even really see it or recognise it as a problem.

“He actually said to me at one point that he was having problems releasing the third dart. And from that third dart, it basically turned into all three darts feeling like a problem.”

Pietreczko has since sought help from a mental coach as he looks to overcome the issue.

Schindler added: “He’s trying, and he’s working with a mental coach to improve it and get better. I personally couldn’t really give him any concrete advice or tips.

“He gave me his trust by saying, ‘Martin, by the World Cup I’ll be ready again, I’ll be fit again, and I’ll get everything sorted’.

“I think it’s really great for Ricardo. I believe this is another milestone in his personality and his development.

“He’s facing a real challenge now, a proper obstacle, and he has to push through it. And he is working on it, and I think that’s great to see.”

Germany have been drawn alongside the Philippines and New Zealand in Group A and Schindler insists their immediate focus is on reaching the knockout stages.

He continued: “I’m really looking forward to playing in Frankfurt again.

“In recent years it has been a lot of fun for me; it’s been a great tournament with an excellent atmosphere, and I really hope it will be the same again this year.

“We have, in inverted commas, a difficult starting position. But honestly, even though we are not in great form at the moment, we can still beat a number of nations.

“Even England, if we have a few good moments on our side, we can beat the outright favourites.

“There is a very strange German saying, I don’t like it, but it probably fits: ‘The supposedly dead live longer.’ And I think both Ricardo and I are currently living by that.”