By Paul Jones
Gerwyn Price believes he let a fifth International Darts Open title slip from his grasp after losing the final of the European tour event.
German home favourite Martin Schindler denied Price as he surged to victory in his first European Tour final.
The 27-year-old German powered his way to an 8-5 win over the two-time defending champion at the WT Energiesysteme Arena in Riesa to claim his first senior PDC crown.
“I’m a little bit disappointed in myself,” reflected Price, who was featuring in his tenth European Tour final.
“I felt I should have won this game, but fair play to Martin, he’s a fantastic player and he played well there.”
https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/1779615993796444271
Price opened the final with an 11-dart leg, but world No 24 Schindler – nicknamed ‘The Wall’ – refused to buckle and checked out on 120 to take a 5-4 lead before throwing in a 10-dart leg to go 7-4 up.
Having left himself 48 to clinch victory, he made no mistake, putting his first dart in the single 16 bed and hitting the double with his second to popular acclaim from the home crowd.
Price had won 20 of his last 21 matches at this event prior to this weekend, and he continued his incredible record in Riesa to pocket the £12,000 runner-up prize.
The Iceman fended off a resilient Brendan Dolan in his second round tie on Saturday, before powering in an astonishing 115.74 average – a new tournament record – to dispatch Ricardo Pietreczko in round three.
https://twitter.com/DartsCymru/status/1779617964334927889
Price then fought back from 5-2 down to deny Ross Smith in the last eight – aided by a sensational 161 skin-saver in leg nine – and he followed this up with a hard-fought victory over Stephen Bunting in the semi-finals.
The Welsh star looked like he might escape again in the final when he preserved his hopes with a brilliant 12-dart hold in the final set, but Schindler wasn’t to be denied, taking out 48 in two darts to clinch his maiden senior title on home soil.
Price earned his place in the final with a 7-5 victory over Stephen Bunting, who hit a stunning 164 finish to level at 4-4 after trailing 4-1, but could not deny the reigning champion victory.
https://twitter.com/DAZN_DE/status/1779617522314105336
However the 39-year-old, who had averaged 115.74 in a 6-3 win over Ricardo Pietreczko to make it into the last eight, found the going significantly tougher against quarter-final opponent Ross Smith, who led 3-0 and 5-2, but ultimately succumbed 6-5.
“My knees are shaking right now,” claimed a tearful Schindler, who climbs to a career-high of world number 22.
“It’s just crazy. I’ve been playing this tour for seven to eight years now. It’s been such a long journey, and now I’m standing here with one of these beautiful trophies.
“I could never have dreamed of this ten years ago, but I have worked so hard for this, I’ve invested so much and right now, I might just be the happiest man on earth.
“I want to be one of the best dart players in the world, and when you win a title on the European Tour, I think you are one of the best.
“My main priority for me was to improve my ranking for the World Matchplay and the World Grand Prix and that went completely to plan. I’m so happy about that, and I’m so happy to win this trophy.”
Schindler’s passage had been secured by a 7-3 semi-final demolition of England’s Chris Dobey, who never recovered from losing the first five legs, with the German having disposed of Dutchmen Richard Veenstra and Danny Noppert on his way to the last four.
Gerwyn Price is still on course to win his 5th International Open title as he triumphs 7-5 against a dogged Stephen Bunting.
A dazzling finishing display from ‘The Iceman’ hitting 7 of his 8 darts at double (87.5%).
He’ll play home favourite Martin Schindler in the Final. pic.twitter.com/IZXuYcwXaW
— Darts Cymru (@DartsCymru) April 14, 2024