Martin Schindler becomes just the third German player to win a senior PDC title winning the International Darts Open on home soil

The PDC made its way to Riesa in Germany for the third of thirteen PDC European Tour events this year and for the International Darts Open. The crowd in the Sachsen Arena appeared buzzing to have two German hopes going into the final day of the tournament. In the end they were sent home happy as Martin Schindler delivered a victory for the home fans.

Wales’s Gerwyn Price arrived at the tournament the defending champion having won the event in both 2023 and 2022, aiming for his fifth International Darts Open title. Price looked likely to retain his title for a third consecutive year following an impressive 7-5 semi-final victory over Stephen Bunting and overcoming Ross Smith 6-3 in the quarter finals.

Martin Schindler, who ten years ago worked on the PDC European tour as a steward was appearing in his first ever first European Tour Final. “The Wall” started the evening as the number two ranked German player but his victory over Price saw him claim the top spot as the highest ranked player from his nation for the very first time.

The final was an entertaining one; Price took an early lead opening with an 11 dart break of throw and then comfortably holding his throw. Schindler however played his way into the game and when the two exchanged breaks in legs seven and eight. From there the German looked in complete control. Price created opportunities for himself but a recurrence of recent struggles with tops and tens meant that he did not capitalise and presented too many opportunities to his opponent. Schindler looked to be relaxed and unflustered on stage and held his nerve taking his chances to secure what by the end looked like a comfortable victory in front of a rapturous home nation crowd.

The victory, having moved Martin Schindler above Gabriel Clemens in the rankings, places Schindler in pole position to captain his country on home soil at the PDC World Cup of Darts in June which will once again be played in Frankfurt, Germany.

Earlier in the evening, Schindler breezed past Chris Dobey 7-3 where Dobey struggled to find the form that had brought him to that stage of the tournament and overcame Danny Noppert 6-5 in a tense deciding leg in the quarter final.

Afternoon Session Highlights

Chris Dobey whitewashed the player who was at the time the German number one Gabriel Clemens, which likely added even more fuel to the fire of the hostile German crowd when he played Schindler in the semi-final.

Ryan Searle came through a nervy final leg decider in a tense match with Damon Heta and Stephen Bunting overcame world number one and reigning world champion Luke Humphries.

Ritchie Edhouse continued his European Tour exploits; after becoming the only player to come through 4 qualification events in a row under the new format, Edhouse defeated his second former PDC World Champion of the event when he defeated Rob Cross 6-4 with an impressive 103.49 average.

Sunday April 14

Afternoon Session

Third Round

Richard Veenstra 1-6 Martin Schindler

Nathan Aspinal 2-6 Danny Noppert

Damon Heta 5-6 Ryan Searle

Gabriel Clemens 0-6 Chris Dobey

Luke Humphries 4-6 Stephen Bunting

Rob Cross 4-6 Ritchie Edhouse

Gerwyn Price 6-3 Ricardo Pietreczko

Cameron Menzies 4-6 Ross Smith

Evening Session

Quarter-Finals

Martin Schindler 6-5 Danny Noppert

Ryan Searle 2-6 Chris Dobey

Stephen Bunting 6-5 Ritchie Edhouse

Gerwyn Price 6-5 Ross Smith

Semi-Finals

Martin Schindler 7-3 Chris Dobey

Stephen Bunting 5-7 Gerwyn Price

Final

Martin Schindler 8v5 Gerwyn Price