World Cup at Alexandra Palace: German darts hope between Playstation and Einstein

When Ricardo Pietreczko was asked to outline the typical daily routine of a darts professional before the World Cup, some listeners were amazed. The 30-year-old from Nuremberg symbolically referred to the current day and emphasized that he had already at least thought about training in the morning – but then his girlfriend reminded him of the media round, the only big one before the tournament.

“Then I turned on the Playstation and drove two or three races in Gran Turismo. If I feel like it, I’ll sit on the board for a bit – if not, I’ll continue playing Playstation,” Pietreczko described in one remarkable openness that would be unthinkable in other sports.

Surprise against van Veen

Critics called the statements of Pikachu, as Pietreczko is called, not open, but highly unprofessional. It is therefore not without a certain humor that this same Pietreczko is Germany’s last remaining representative at the World Cup in the Ally Pally.

On Saturday (2:45 p.m./Sport1 and DAZN) he has the chance against last year’s English semi-finalist Scott Williams to reach the round of 16 of the most important tournament in the world for the first time and as the second German ever. While hopefuls like Martin Schindler and Gabriel Clemens lost in their first game, Pietreczko has already won two games – including the encounter against secret favorite Gian van Veen.

Occasionally casual language

During the Christmas holidays, for which he stayed on the island, Pietreczko showed that he not only knows Playstation – but also Albert Einstein. “If the old year was successful, then look forward to the new one. And if it was bad, then even more so,” Pietreczko quoted the scientist as saying in a post on social networks.

The darts professional is always a little more casual with his language. When he talked about his year in 2024 and the significant fluctuations in his performance, he said that his games away from the big stages this year had not been “great”.

Training as a waiter, painter and postman

Speaking of balls: When Pietreczko lost a 3-1 lead against eventual world champion Luke Humphries last year, Michael van Gerwen raged without mercy: “What’s his name again? Pietreczko? He has no balls at all,” said van Gerwen. It was the only defeat in Pikachu’s five World Cup games so far. But that was particularly painful.

After the World Cup, Pietreczko will overtake compatriot Clemens and become the new German number two in the rankings. This is a remarkable rise when you consider the career the Berlin native has behind him.

Pietreczko completed training as a postman, as a waiter and as a painter before he decided to move to the window. There he seems to have found his calling. “I see myself playing darts until I can’t stand anymore,” he said.

Pietreczko’s British days lie ahead in London. If they are successful against Williams, they will face Nathan Aspinall or Andrew Gilding, both of whom also come from England. A possible quarter-final opponent would be top favorite and teenager Luke Littler. The duels are certainly explosive. Pietreczko’s opponent Williams had made controversial statements relating to the World War last year after a victory over the German Schindler and then explicitly apologized for them.