“Really hard to bring your heartbeat down after” – Ricardo Pietreczko stays cool amid bullseye brilliance to keep German hopes alive at European Championship 2025
German star Ricardo Pietreczko produced a sensational bullseye display in Dortmund to reach the quarter-finals of the 2025 European Championship, defeating Jermaine Wattimena 10–6 with a mix of nerve, precision and showmanship.“This victory means an awful lot to me,” Pietreczko said after the match to Dartsnews.de. “To make the quarter-finals for the second year in a row is just brilliant. The atmosphere here is incredible – Dortmund really seems to bring out my best. I don’t know why, but it just fits.”
Bullseye Magic: 164 and 125 Checkouts Bring the Crowd to Its Feet
Pietreczko made an early statement with a stunning 164 checkout on the bull to break throw at 2–1. Later, he electrified the crowd again with a spectacular 125 finish made up of bull, single bull and bull – a rare and crowd-pleasing sequence.
“The 164 and 125 were exactly the moments when I could take control of the match,” he explained. “Those little bursts made all the difference in the end.”
Staying Composed Under Pressure
Despite his highlight finishes, Pietreczko admitted it wasn’t all smooth sailing. After key breaks, he sometimes found it tough to maintain momentum.
“It’s really hard to bring your heartbeat down after a big break,” he said. “That’s not just me – it’s the same for a lot of players. Rebuilding focus afterwards, that’s the real art.”
His composure on the bullseye was once again remarkable. Twice on Saturday – and once already on Friday – he nailed crucial bull shots. When asked whether his soft-tip darts background helps, he dismissed the idea: “I don’t think so, honestly. I play a lot more steel-tip now. That cliché that soft-tip players are better on the bull isn’t really true. I’ve probably played on those bigger ‘Bullshooter’ boards maybe five times in my life.”
A Familiar Quarter-Final Clash Awaits
Sunday will see Pietreczko return to the European Championship final day – and once again, he’ll face Danny Noppert, the same opponent who narrowly beat him last year.
“Maybe I should just win ten legs instead of nine,” Pietreczko laughed. “Lena told me that too! It worked out today – I’ll try to do the same tomorrow.”
Once again, Pietreczko stands as the last remaining German in the tournament – a fact he takes in his stride. “I’ve been in this position before,” he said. “It doesn’t add any pressure. In the end, we’re all playing for ourselves – Martin, Niko, everyone would say the same. Each of us is trying to push our own career as far as possible.”
With his trademark energy and growing confidence, Ricardo “Pikachu” Pietreczko is quickly becoming one of the most exciting names on the European darts circuit.
