Schmutzler makes his debut at the Ally Pally

A total of four German players are represented at the 2022 Darts World Championship. The participation of Fabian Schmutzler from Frankfurt is particularly sensational. After all the 16-year-old is the second youngest participant in the history of the PDC World Darts Championship. For “The Fabolous Fab” the match against Ryan Meikle will start the tournament.

His English opponent takes part for the third time in a World Championship. So far Ryan “The Barber” Meikle never survived the first round of a World Darts Championship. Nevertheless, after a special calendar year in 2021, in which Meikle played numerous matches against elite players, there are realistic chances to reach the next round of the World Championship.

According to betting odds, Meikle is rated as a comparatively clear favourite against Schmutzler by the best bookmakers. Schmutzler was the second best player of the current calendar year on the European Development Tour. Meikle, on the other hand, has already won that tour six times in his current career.

On Thursday evening, the only question is how Fabian Schmutzler will perform on the big stage. After all, the German youngster lacks experience in the “Ally Pally” so far. If Schmutzler can cope with the special atmosphere at Alexandra Palace, the 16-year-old definitely has the necessary talent to eliminate Meikle from the competition.

As always, the entire 2022 World Darts Championship can be seen on free-TV on Sport1. Betting fans who have a DAZN account can also follow the World Championship in the “Ally Pally” on the streaming service. With great anticipation we German darts fans expect the tournament opener between Meikle vs. Schmutzler which is expected to start in the livestream of the two providers mentioned before from 21:00 (CET) on 16.12.2021

Ryan Meikle – Statistics & current form

Ryan Meikle is one of the youngsters in the PDC as well. Last year Meikle was still active on the Development Tour – the youth tournament of the PDC – and with his year’s haul he was the winner for the sixth time in his current career. In January 2021 Meikle, nicknamed “The Hairdresser”, even got the award as Youth Player of the Year.

Nevertheless, Meikle remained unsuccessful in the current year and flew largely under the radar. His best result at a major so far was a place in the last 16 at the Players Championship Finals 2019, but Meikle always failed in the first round at the World Championships – so far, a World Cup participation beckoned twice.

This year, Meikle has another tough hurdle ahead of him and has to face the German youngster Schmutzler. In his last five matches in the Players Championship, “The Barber” Meikle had four defeats and only one win. The latter in the finals against van Duijvenbode, where the Englishman celebrated a narrow 6:5 victory.

Meikle with eventful year on tour

Over the calendar year, Ryan Meikle has improved significantly, but the Englishman has failed time and time again to win against the elite players. So also at the Players Championship Finals before the World Darts Championship 2022 where Meikle was eliminated in the round of the last 32 by Gary Anderson. In the best-of-11 “The Barber” only managed to win two legs with an average of 84.00 points.

Because the 25-year-old at least gained enough playing practice in the Players Championship this year despite bitter setbacks, Meikle is brimming with self-confidence in contrast to Schmutzler. It is therefore not at all surprising that Meikle vs Schmutzler prediction includes low odds on the Brit.

Last games of Ryan Meikle:

Players Championship Finals
11/27 2021 – Ryan Meikle 2 – 6 Gary Anderson

11/26 2021 – Dirk van Duijvenbode 5 – 6 Ryan Meikle

Players Championship 30
11/04 2021 – Alan Soutar 6 – 4 Ryan Meikle

Players Championship 29
11/03 2021 – Darren Webster 6 – 5 Ryan Meikle

Players Championship 28
11/02 2021 – Danny Noppert 6 – 0 Ryan Meikle

Fabian Schmutzler – Statistics & current form

At 16 years of age at a World Championship in the famous “Ally Pally” in London – a dream come true for Fabian Schmutzler. The youngster qualified after an impressive year as runner-up of the Development Tour for the 2022 World Darts Championship of the PDC. Thursday evening the long awaited World Championship adventure will begin for the man from Frankfurt.

Although the tournament opener is a doable task Schmutzler didn’t exactly benefit from the luck of the draw. After a potential win over Meikle the showdown with Peter Wright, the World Champion of 2020, beckons in the next round. Even a win against Ryan Meikle would be a surprise. A success against Wright, on the other hand, is rather utopian.

Especially as Schmutzler has to win against both players in the best-of-five. If the Frankfurt youngster silences his critics, odds of 3.20 on Meikle against Schmutzler for a bet on the 16-year-old youngster are waiting for him.

Does Schmutzler go down on the big stage?

Two times already Schmutzler prevailed in the youth tournaments of the PDC. Nevertheless “The Fabolous Fab” never stood on the big stage till now. In the “Ally Pally” it is therefore not yet foreseeable how the 16-year-old will deal with the special atmosphere. It is quite possible that Schmutzler lacks the necessary self-confidence to overcome the hurdle against Meikle.

Especially as Fabian Schmutzler has been in the media spotlight in recent weeks. For the participation in the Darts World Championship 2022 Schmutzler already beckons a prize money of almost 9,000 Euros even with a defeat. If the Hessian even wins his opening match, the sum will be doubled before the showdown with Peter Wright.

By the way: For his participation in the 2022 World Darts Championship Fabian Schmutzler even got three days off school.

Ryan Meikle – Fabian Schmutzler Tip

Ryan Meikle gained enough experience this calendar year to make the first round of a World Championship for the first time in his young career. In the last two years the Englishman, who already won six times as a youth player the Development Tour of the PDC, failed in the first rounds of a World Championship.

This time Meikle has a feasible hurdle in front of him for the first time. Although Fabian Schmutzler is by no means underestimated, the role as favourite of Meikle, who already defied some top-class players in the Players Championship this year, is by no means up for debate. After all, Meikle is ahead of the German youngster, especially in terms of experience.

Schmutzler will be on the big stage for the first time at the tournament opener in the “Ally Pally”. If there is no success in the first throws, it is obvious that the self-confidence will dwindle further in the further course of the match.

We therefore tend to expect a clear win for the Englishman, who thus sets the course for the showdown with Wright. With a stake of five units on Meikle vs. Schmutzler, our forecast at betting odds of 3.50 aims for a white wash – a 3:0 win for Meikle