Martin Schindler's aspirations at the 2025 Darts World Championship came crashing down Sunday night as he suffered a crushing defeat against England's Callan Rydz, ending his campaign much earlier than anticipated. The German number one lost 0:3 at the prestigious Alexandra Palace, delivering what he described as 'absolutely unsatisfactory' performance after hitting only three of his 28 attempts on double shots.
With visible disappointment etched on his face, Schindler, nicknamed "The Wall," failed to convert early momentum and expressed frustration over his timing. "It felt like I was throwing at doubles for the first time. I had absolutely no feeling up there, it was really catastrophic," he lamented to Sport1 following the match.
The setback stung all the more as he had previously swept Rydz across all twelve PDC Tour meetings. Though Schindler almost achieved the first German nine-darter at Ally Pally, he missed the double twelve after eight perfect darts, allowing Rydz to snatch the first set. Schindler later reflected, "It's difficult to explain. I felt like I wasn't in control. It feels dirty. I worked so much on doubles before the World Championship because I know timing is everything here.”
The match began relatively well for Schindler as he led at one point. Still, he quickly descended as nerves and repeated misses plagued his game, with only 10.71% accuracy on doubles pushing him to the brink of elimination. Rydz capitalized on every mistake, taking the subsequent two sets with relative ease.
Martin Schindler is not the only one to face disappointment at the tournament, as several other German players have also seen their runs end early. Former semi-finalist Gabriel Clemens, debutant Kai Gotthardt, and Niko Springer all fell victim to the tournament's first rounds. All eyes now shift to Ricardo Pietreczko and Florian Hempel, the last two remaining German players, who will compete later for places in the third round. This year’s event marked the largest German representation ever seen at the World Championship, with six players qualifying, yet optimism quickly dimmed as early exits piled up.
Shortly after Schindler’s defeat, he emphasized his determination to bounce back next year. "I hope I gave you all a little heart attack. It wasn't supposed to be today," he assured his fans. "Next year I’ll be back." Schindler’s charisma has endeared him to fans and his resolve to improve leaves room for hope amid disappointment.
Meanwhile, Gary Anderson, two-time World Champion from Scotland, also failed to advance after losing to Jeffrey de Graaf, joining Schindler among the tournament's early upsets. Anderson battled his own problems on doubles, achieving only 15% success, which led to his first-ever exit at the first round of the World Championship. Ironically, this happened on his birthday, adding another layer of drama to the event.
Other unexpected results have emerged as well, with Rydz sealing his victory following some shaky moments. The tournament remains unpredictable, casting shadows of doubt over participating favorites, with some hoped-for players falling victim to upsets.
Looking forward, Pietreczko will hit the stage against Dutch junior world champion Gian van Veen, with Hempel following against seasoned player Daryl Gurney. With several upsets dominating the tournament narrative, both German players carry the weight of expectation as they aim to reverse the trend of early exits. The Darts World Championship is notorious for its unpredictability, and this year has already illustrated how quickly fortunes can shift.
Only time will tell if the remaining Germans can salvage their country's pride as Schindler ponders his future. Disappointment aside, there is resilience in the air as young talents prepare to take the stage, proving the path forward remains open for those brave enough to face the challenge head-on.
