Expert explains: What the end of the World Cup means for “Pikachu”.
Dec 28, 2025 8:28 am | 1:21m
Ricardo Pietreczko fails in the 3rd round of the 2026 World Darts Championship. Our expert Kevin Schulte explains why “Pikachu” lost out and what his exit means for the world rankings.
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Of course, it’s mentally difficult to act when you feel something is missing right from the start. Something is missing to make your opponent’s basic level. And Ricardo Pedretzko unfortunately has an Achilles heel that makes it difficult for him to sink his teeth into games like this. He can then reach a certain level, but somehow cannot reproduce what is special. There was something special, but not as much as he needed.
Relatively little happened in terms of the world rankings because it was still an early round and therefore the result wasn’t that bad. He reached the third round. We have more unseeded players than seeded players in the round of 32. One of them is Ricardo Pedretzko and accordingly his world ranking position will be able to maintain around position 32-30.
£35,000, which is around €38,000 approximately. So accordingly there is a hefty prize money. For comparison, if you win a European Tour event like this in a normal year, there are 14 tournaments in total, then you earn a little less money. So accordingly. The two victories here at the Elipelli have already meant a good payday for him.

