Ricardo Pietreczko became the second German professional to overcome his opening hurdle at this year’s Darts World Cup. The 30-year-old from Hanover lived up to his role as favorite and won confidently in the first round with 3-0 sets against the Chinese Zong Xiaochen.
In the second round, “Pikachu” will face the newly crowned junior world champion Gian van Veen from the Netherlands on the day before Christmas Eve (8:15 p.m.).
With the fourth match dart, Pietreczko followed Kai Gotthardt, who had won his World Cup debut the day before, into the second round. In his first round match, Pietreczko, who made it into a major quarter-final for the first time at the European Darts Championship in October, set the tone from the start and also provided a highlight in the second set when he checked 158 points. “The 158 came at exactly the right moment”said Pietreczko afterwards on DAZN. It was then clear to him: “Yes, I can. Yes, I will beat him”.
Against van Veen, who is ranked 28th in the Order of Merit of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), six places ahead of Pietreczko in the world rankings, the German now has the chance to achieve his result from his World Cup debut last year with another win. Last year he failed in the third round against eventual world champion Luke Humphries (England).
Trans woman van Leuven loses on debut
Noa-Lynn van Leuven lost her historic debut game at the Darts World Cup in London. The 28-year-old Dutchwoman lost 3-1 to her compatriot Kevin Doets in the first round.
Van Leuven, who was the first trans woman to compete at the World Cup, started strong and won the first set straight away. When she had the chance for a break in the second set, she threw numerous throws past the doubles. From that point on, Doets moved away. On Thursday evening he will face former world champion Michael Smith from England.
Friendly welcome at Ally Pally
There had been numerous hostilities against van Leuven in the past few months. In addition to hate comments on social media, rivals also commented that they were bothered by van Leuven’s qualification via the Women’s Series. She was warmly welcomed at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday afternoon.
Trans people or transgender people are people who do not feel like they belong to the gender they were assigned at birth. Van Leuven completed hormone therapy in 2022. According to the regulations of the world association PDC, their start is permitted.
Gotthardt surprised
On Monday evening, debutant Kai Gotthardt surprisingly won his opening match. The top German player Martin Schindler, Gabriel Clemens, Florian Hempel and debutant Niko Springer are also qualified.