For the first time in the history of the Darts World Cup, Germany will be represented by eight starters at the season highlight in London’s Ally Pally. The opponents of Martin Schindler, Ricardo Pietreczko, Gabriel Clemens, Niko Springer, Lukas Wenig, Max Hopp, Dominik Grüllich and Arno Merk were drawn on Monday afternoon.
Martin Schindler is traveling to the English capital as the best German. As number 13 in the world, he recently expanded his status as the best German player in darts history at the Players Championship Finals. The 29-year-old will face Stephen Burton at the start. The Englishman is currently ranked 67th in the Order of Merit.
A much more prominent name was drawn for Ricardo Pietreczko, who has to face Jose De Sousa in round one. The Portuguese, who won the Grand Slam of Darts in 2020, only qualified for the World Championship at the last minute on Monday and recently slipped in the rankings to 73rd place.
A really tricky task awaits World Cup returnee Max Hopp, who will face Martin Lukeman (38th in the Order of Merit) at the start. “We got all the tickets that can be solved,” said the returnee, who was last at the Ally Pally in 2021, told “Sport1”: “I have confidence in myself to win.”
Dominik Grüllich is the only German starter who will face a seeded player in his first World Cup appearance. Jermaine Wattimena, number 19 on the seeding list, awaits the debutant.
Darts World Cup: Luke Littler at the start against Lithuanians
Arno Merk will also be an outsider in the first round game, facing Belgian Kim Huybrechts. The man from Lower Saxony is happy about a “great draw,” as he explained to “DAZN” after the draw. “I beat him once when I was 18, then I’ll do it again,” says the debutant optimistically.
There should also be reason for optimism for Lukas Wenig (against Wesley Plezier), Gabriel Clemens (against Alex Spellmann) and Niko Springer (against Joe Comito), who will all go into their opening games as favorites. The World Championship, which is larger than ever with 128 participants, begins on December 11th and ends with the final on January 3rd, 2026.
Defending champion Luke Littler will also have hopes of taking part in the final again, as he will face veteran Darius Labanauskas from Lithuania in round one. The meeting between Dave Chisnall and the “Queen of the Palace” Fallon Sherrock is likely to provide further highlights without German participation.
The game between Littler-Schreck Beau Greaves and Daryl Gurney could also be a special treat.