Ricardo Pietreczko opens up about struggle with dartitis

German professional darts player Ricardo Pietreczko has opened up about his struggle with dartitis, a psychological condition that affects a player's ability to throw. In his new podcast, "Zwischen Donnerschlag und Hinkelstein," Pietreczko discussed the difficulties he faced leading up to the World Cup of Darts, including public pressure to vacate his spot for Niko Springer.

Previously resistant to professional psychological help, Pietreczko has now begun working with mental coach Johannes Lipsius. He admitted that while he once believed he was mentally strong enough to manage alone, he eventually realized he could not overcome the crisis by himself. His partner, Lena, noted that a change in approach was necessary to unlock his full talent.

The physical and mental toll of the condition was evident during recent competitions, such as the European Tour in Riesa, where Pietreczko reported feeling completely exhausted after matches due to the mental effort required to compensate for his throwing issues.