Darts: “The UK Open are my tournament” – two Germans come up trumps

MArtin Schindler beamed. “This is my tournament. Definitely,” said the 25-year-old, who made it into the top 32 of the UK Open for the fourth time in his career after beating Ryan Joyce 10-8.

Schindler is one of two Germans in the fifth round on Saturday (from 1.45 p.m. live on Sport1 and DAZN). After five compatriots Max Hopp, Fabian Schmutzler, Ricardo Pietreczko, Lukas Wenig and Niko Springer were eliminated on Friday afternoon in one of the first three rounds of the major tournament known as the FA Cup of Darts, the evening meant the end of the line for another German.

Florian Hempel lost surprisingly clearly against Dutchman Geert Nentjes. The man from Cologne was 5:10 after 15 legs with an average of 90.42 points.

“I won a game here, lost a game,” Hempel summed up: “The defeat might not have been necessary, but Geert played really well. He played what I wanted to play,” said Hempel, who developed visionary abilities after his defeat: “I won’t fly back home until Sunday because Gabriel Clemens is a second German in the fifth round against Rob Cross. I will support you tomorrow.”

A steep thesis, the German number one had caught a difficult fate with Cross. On the other hand, the Englishman is one of the Saarlander’s favorite opponents. Clemens had been able to win all three duels so far. And this time he was able to prevail.

“On the other hand, I’ll never win against Ratajski,” Clemens answered the question about his flawless series against “Voltage” and went into the analysis: “I came into the break happily 6:4. The 170 of mine was the game changer. Then I could play it well from the front.”

After the interruption, Clemens initially lost the next three legs, including two on his own throw and lost momentum. But the 170 brought him back and consistently strong scoring ultimately also brought him victory. The “German Giant”, who lives in an apartment in Minehead together with his girlfriend, Hempel and his girlfriend, used his fourth match dart to make it 10:7.

A victory that should now turn the trend in his weakest year on the tour so far. “I wasn’t really good at the beginning of the season. The results were not what I had imagined. But then you just have to train. I hope that the season will start now,” said Clemens, who wanted Peter Wright for the round of the top 32 world champions: “He suits me quite well.”

Instead, he now has to deal with World Cup finalist Michael Smith. A difficult lot that should bring him the big TV stage. On Saturday the tournament will continue on four boards instead of eight.

Schindler for the fourth time in lap five

Schindler also caught a thankless lot. “The Wall” meets the Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode, who prevailed against William Borland.

Previously, Schindler had also won against Joyce after victories over Lewy Williams and Jeff Smith. Schindler played an average of 94.04 points, was already ahead at 8:6 and 9:7 with a break and prevented the decider in 14 darts.

“He didn’t let go, but I managed a few breaks right out the back. I’m glad I got through. It’s been a long day,” recalled Schindler, who arrived at Butlin’s Resort at 8 a.m. to prepare for his first match.

With another win on Saturday, the Hesse by choice would jump into the top 60 in the world rankings and also pass Hempel, the German number two, in the ranking with an additional 3,500 pounds in prize money. Perhaps an advantage that he will compete on a board away from many spectators. “I just don’t like the big stage. It feels like a different Martin Schindler is taking place up there,” he said.

Results 4th round

Ritchie Edhouse (ENG) – Sebastian Bialecki (POL) 6:10

Mervyn King (ENG) – Stephen Bunting (ENG) 4:10

Andy Boulton (ENG) – Damon Heta (AUS) 5:10

Ryan Searle (ENG) – Adrian Lewis (ENG) 10:7

Chris Dobey (ENG) – Michael Smith (ENG) 7:10

Ryan Joyce (ENG) – Martin Schindler (GER) 8:10

Jim Williams (WAL) – Niels Zonneveld (NED) 5:10

Jermaine Wattimena (NED) – Vincent van der Voort (NED) 5:10

Daryl Gurney (NIL) – Dimitri van den Bergh (BEL) 2:10

Jason Heaver (ENG) – William O‘Connor (IRL) 7:10

Geert Nentjes (NED) – Florian Hempel (GER) 10:5

Glen Durrant (ENG) – Scott Waites (ENG) 5:10

Darius Labanauskas (LIT) – Ricky Evans (ENG) 9:10

Kim Huybrechts (BEL) – Mensur Suljovic (AUT) 9:10

Krzysztof Ratajski (POL) – Gerwyn Price (WAL) 5:10

Maik Kuivenhoven (NED) – Simon Whitlock (AUS) 9:10

Steve Lennon (IRL) – James Wade (ENG) 6:10

Jelle Klaasen (NED) – Devon Petersen (RSA) 6:10

Luke Woodhouse (ENG) – Boris Krcmar (CRO) 5:10

Keane Berry (IRL) – Graham Hall (ENG) 10: 7

Brendan Dolan (NIR) – Dave Chisnall (ENG) 3:10

Steve West (ENG) – Jose de Sousa (POR) 6:10

Jamie Hughes (ENG) – Adam Gawlas (CZE) 10: 5

Michael van Gerwen (NED) – Gary Anderson (SCO) 10:7

Dirk van Duijvenbode (NED) – Willie Borland (SCO) 10:6

Callan Rydz (ENG) – Nathan Aspinall (ENG) 10:9

Danny Noppert (NED) – Ryan Meikle (ENG) 10: 3

Rob Cross (ENG) – Gabriel Clemens (GER) 7:10

Ian White (ENG) – Luke Humphries (ENG) 10:9

Martin Lukeman (ENG) – Jonny Clayton (WAL) 9:10

Ron Meulenkamp (NED) – Krzysztof Kciuk (POL) 10: 9

Joe Cullen (ENG) – Peter Wright (SCO)

Draw 5th round

Ron Meulenkamp (NED) – James Wade (ENG)

Jamie Hughes (ENG) – Gerwyn Price (WAL)

Ryan Searle (ENG) – Dimtri van den Bergh (BEL)

Dave Chisnall (ENG) – Boris Krcmar (CRO)

Damon Heta (AUS) – Michael van Gerwen (NED)

Dirk van Duijvenbode (NED) – Martin Schindler (GER)

Peter Wright (SCO) – Simon Whitlock (AUS)

Niels Zonneveld (NED) – Keane Barry (IRL)

Callan Rydz (ENG) – Vincent van der Voort (NED)

Jonny Clayton (WAL) – Jose de Sousa (POR)

Danny Noppert (NED) – Devon Petersen (RSA)

Scott Waites (ENG) – Ricky Evans (ENG)

Mensur Suljovic (AUT) – Geert Nentjes (NED)

Ian White (ENG) – Sebastian Bialecki (POL)

Gabriel Clemens (GER) – Michael Smith (ENG)

William O‘Connor (IRL) – Stephen Bunting (ENG)