Ricardo Pietreczko: How the darts professional got his nickname

There is not much to gain for German darts players at the World Championships in London. Only one participant made it past the second round: Ricardo Pietreczko, nicknamed “Pikachu”, is holding the German flag high at the competition in the British capital. But the 30-year-old is on a real roll, even reached the round of 16 (this Monday, 4 p.m., live on Sport1 and Dazn) – and is ready for the really big hit.

In the legendary Alexandra Palace, Pietreczko has already put fear into the hearts of some favorites. First he surprisingly won against the more highly rated Dutchman Gian van Veen, then in the third round he managed a victory against Scott Williams. The Englishman was at least in the semi-finals last year. But Pietreczko has long had completely different goals in mind: “I’m playing the tournament to become world champion,” he made it clear.

Such sounds are rather unusual for the 30-year-old. In contrast to some other darts greats, who are rather flamboyant, Pietreczko appears withdrawn, which has already earned him one or two verbal tips from the competition. Darts superstar Michael van Gerwen insinuated that he had “no balls at all” after he was eliminated from the World Cup last year.

Pietreczko’s opponent in the round of 16 this year, Nathan Aspinall, said: “Ricardo is a great player, but a strange guy. He does his own thing, always hangs out with his girlfriend at the tournaments. I’ve never really spoken a word to him.”

Pietreczko and his 28-year-old girlfriend Lena have been a couple for a year, and in addition to his private happiness, he also benefits from the relationship on the screen. Pietreczko told broadcaster Dazn that he repeatedly sought eye contact with his girlfriend during the third round game against Scott Williams: “She said: It’s fine, everything’s fine. That’s the key to success for me.” The couple met in Hanover, where Pietreczko now lives and his girlfriend also plays darts. The 30-year-old was born in Berlin and grew up in Nuremberg.

In the darts world, Pietreczko is best known by his nickname Pikachu. An acquaintance got his last name wrong, and since then the 30-year-old has been called like the yellow Pokémon with thunderbolt. Appropriately, he runs in to the Pokémon series music before his matches. At the age of 16, Pietreczko discovered darts and in 2022 he earned the tour card, which paved his way to the big stages and to a life as a professional. The world number 34. has earned in his career.

The career of the Berlin native was not particularly linear. Pietreczko tried various professions, starting training as a postman, waiter and painter. However, the passion for arrows played the main role. “I see myself playing darts until I can’t stand anymore,” he says.

Pietreczko spent Christmas with his girlfriend in London. However, not entirely voluntarily: the darts player suffers from a severe fear of flying and travels to tournaments by train or car as often as possible. And going back home for the holidays would have meant unnecessary hardship during the tournament.

Foregoing Christmas with family and friends was worth it: Pietreczko is now only the second German ever to reach the World Cup round of 16. So far only Gabriel Clemens (2021 and 2023) had achieved this. With Nathan Aspinall he meets another favorite – and an Englishman. As in the previous match, the German darts hope will have a difficult time in the “Pally Ally”. But “The Last German Standing” Ricardo Pietreczko already knows that.

Sources: ,, , , DPA news agency