On Saturday evening, March 15, 2025, the popular German game show "Schlag den Star" featured an intense competition between former footballer Max Kruse and his wife Dilara against entertainer Jens "Knossi" Knossalla and his fiancée Lia Mitrou. The episode, which lasted almost five hours, ended with the Kruses narrowly winning with 63:57 points, claiming the €100,000 prize.”
The competition was fraught with excitement and mishaps, particularly during the fifth game, dubbed the "Zieselstaffel." This game required the couples to navigate through various obstacles using specialized vehicles. Tension mounted when Lia crashed her vehicle, causing chaos, and the game's mechanics led to confusion, especially concerning how many points were awarded for each hurdle completed.
Early on, as the game commenced, Lia crashed her vehicle directly against one of the illuminated columns marking the course. Viewers at home were treated to commentator Ron Ringguth exclaiming, "Unbelievable, what we're seeing here! This could account for most of the €100,000 that's going to need to be compensated due to the defects!" This set the comedic tone for the night.
The game took another turn during the "Blind schieben" segment, where the couples had to push shopping carts with their eyes covered. Lia found herself knocking over additional props, much to the disbelief of the show's host, Matthias Opdenhövel, who remarked, "This is crazy, how are you causing so much destruction?" Unfortunately for the duo, these blunders did not go unnoticed by their competitors.
Despite the early blunders, Knossi and Lia kept pace with the Kruses, leading to an entertaining back-and-forth contest. It became evident as the contest progressed, tensions would run high as the two couples switched between leading and trailing during the various games.
Yet, it was the fifth game, "Zieselstaffel," where controversies arose. Viewers noted the mechanics of the game led to some uncertainty over point allocation. While Lia navigated around the second column correctly, Knossi, confused by the game's design, veered around the same pillar again, leading to frustration among the competitors and questions about fairness. Kruse, visibly displeased, questioned the rationale behind Knossi driving around the column multiple times.
The chaos did not end there. Following the round, commentary on social media exploded with viewers claiming unfair play. One viewer tweeted, "The show was so unbelievably unfair, unbelievable!" Many felt Team Knossi had been deprived of deserved points due to technical issues.
Another viewer chimed in, saying, "It was very strange overall; for the game shown, Team Knossi should have received an additional point!" The comments echoing similar sentiments indicated how viewers were left questioning the integrity of the game and whether the Kruses earned victory fairly.
Following the upheaval of points and decision-making, the round had to be replayed. When the game was resolved, it turned out the Kruse couple executed their strategy effectively, securing the win and cash prize.
Although the competing pairs experienced technical glitches and some unfortunate mishaps throughout the evening, the television debut of the competition this season was successfully received overall. Fans of "Schlag den Star" were proud to see their favorites push their limits, though many remained vocal about the evening's frustrations.
Despite the controversy, the show continued to be produced by Brainpool, who managed to keep the evening engaging, albeit chaotic. While some viewers were inclined to support Knossi and Lia, others championed the Kruses’ victory, ensuring the discussions surrounding the show will continue long after the episode’s close.
This competition not only showcased the athletic prowess of the couples but also highlighted the unpredictable nature of live television and the audience's attachment to their favorite contestants. Moving forward, both pairs are sure to be reevaluated by fans as each side continues to process the excitement and the controversies from this latest episode.