SCHINDLER WINS MAIDEN PLAYERS CHAMP
18/03/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
By Aaron Nijjar
MARTIN SCHINDLER won the Players Championship Eight after he beat Jefferey de Graaf 8-1 in Hildesheim.
‘The Wall’ started the final by going 2-0 up, winning back-to-back legs in 15 and 16 darts.
In the fourth leg, de Graaf missed a dart at the bullseye for a stunning 164 out and then a further two darts at double to hold.
World No.23 Schindler capitalised to go halfway to the title and take full control of the match.
Two-time European Tour event winner Schindler then hit a classy 126 checkout to go 7-1 up before pinning double 10 in the ninth leg to win the match.
Following his victory, Schindler revealed he was delighted to win his maiden Players Championship title on home soil.
He said: “If I am honest, I haven’t played great today but I have managed to win my games and that is the most important thing I guess.
“I always thought the first title I would win would be a Players Championship one but then I got the two European Tour ones.
“I don’t care how they have come but I am so happy right now.”
On his way to the final Schindler cruised past Danny Lauby 6-4 in round two with a stellar 100.57 average.
The Strausberg thrower secured a routine 6-3 victory over former Champions League winner Mensur Suljovic in the last 16.
Schindler then defeated Kevin Doets 6-5 in the quarter-final and survived two match darts to triumph 7-6 against Patrick Geerates in the semi-final.
He added: “Fair play to Patrick but he wasn’t playing great, and I was just thinking I could be doing better.
“Just give it a little bit more and maybe it will be enough. Like I said, I haven’t played great but I am very happy to now win my third title.”
Elsewhere, former World Champions Peter Wright and Michael Smith both exited in the first round of the tournament.
Eight-time major winner Wright was edged out 6-5 by Sebastian Bialecki.
‘Bully Boy’ lost 6-3 to Niko Springer who averaged an impressive 101.53.
Gary Anderson was knocked out in the last 64 by fellow Scot Greg Ritchie who won 6-4.
Lukas Wenig fired a nine-dart leg in his First Round clash with Dom Taylor.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
