Ricardo Pietreczko missed the quarter-finals at the home European Championships in Dortmund. Despite another strong performance, the 29-year-old lost 7:10 in the second round against three-time world champion and long-time world number one Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands), who will now face his compatriot Gian van Veen on Sunday afternoon.
“I’m very proud, the fans were fantastic and fair”said Pietreczko: “At times I had the feeling that I could beat him. I learned a lot and will continue to do my best.”
Pietreczko triumphed at the European Tour event in Hildesheim almost two weeks ago, also eliminating van Gerwen in the semi-finals and becoming the second German to win a tournament on the PDC Tour after Max Hopp in 2018.
Good start for “Pikachu”
The match in the Westfalenhalle got off to a great start for Pietreczko: “Pikachu”, who has already qualified for the World Cup in London (December 15, 2023 to January 3, 2024), conjured up the second highest finish on the board with 167 in the first leg – with The score was 3-2 at the break.
But van Gerwen improved, secured three legs in a row and never gave up this lead. “It was’nt easy. He had a fantastic last month,” said van Gerwen.
Peter Wright, against whom Pietreczko completed his historic coup in the final in Hildesheim, is also still fighting for the European title. The two-time world champion from Scotland defeated the reigning World Cup champion and world number one Michael Smith (England) with a surprisingly clear score of 10:4.