Darts: Schindler and Wenig Propel German Success at Grand Slam
The Grand Slam of Darts has seen impressive performances from German players at the Wolverhampton event. Martin Schindler achieved a personal milestone by breaking a seven-year winless streak. Additionally, Niko Springer and Lukas Wenig secured their spots in the round of 16, marking a very promising event for German darts.
German Success at the Grand Slam of Darts
Max Hopp became the first German player to participate in the Grand Slam of Darts nine years ago. Since then, other German players, including Michael Unterbuchner, Martin Schindler, Gabriel Clemens, and Ricardo Pietreczko, have joined the competition. However, until now, success has been elusive.
- Hopp, Schindler, and Pietreczko have not progressed beyond the group stage in their ten attempts.
- Clemens made it to the round of 16 once in 2019.
- Unterbuchner had a standout year with a quarterfinal appearance last season.
Milestones in Wolverhampton
This year, Schindler, along with newcomers Springer and Wenig, has reached the round of 16, with matches scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. Schindler finally ended his string of unsuccessful attempts by winning 5-2 against Alexis Toylo. His victory was a moment of great release, as he celebrated with visible emotion on stage.
Springer, despite losing 3-5 to Beau Greaves, qualified for the knockout round earlier by defeating notable players Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen. This pivotal moment enabled him to avoid a challenging matchup with Danny Noppert, leading to a German showdown against Wenig in the round of 16.
Wenig’s Journey and Future Prospects
Lukas Wenig, currently ranked 71st in the world, has emerged as a surprising contender after a rocky start in the tournament. He initially lost 4-5 to Noppert but rebounded with a stunning victory over Jonny Clayton and secured his group win by defeating Cam Crabtree 5-1.
Wenig’s recent performance is crucial as he faces uncertainty regarding his tour card for the following year. Only the top 64 players retain eligibility to compete on the tour for another twelve months. He has narrowly positioned himself ahead of the cut-off for continued participation.
Upcoming Matches in the Round of 16
The round of 16 will feature some exciting matchups:
- Luke Woodhouse (ENG) vs. Ricky Evans (ENG)
- Gerwyn Price (WAL) vs. Martin Schindler (D)
- Luke Humphries (ENG) vs. Jurjen van der Velde (NED)
- Chris Dobey (ENG) vs. Michael Smith (ENG)
- Lukas Wenig (D) vs. Niko Springer (D)
- Josh Rock (NIR) vs. Connor Scutt (ENG)
- Luke Littler (ENG) vs. Wessel Nijman (NED)
- Michael van Gerwen (NED) vs. Danny Noppert (NED)
With the matches set to air on Sports1 and DAZN, fans eagerly await the outcomes that could further elevate the status of German dart players at this prestigious tournament.
