Michael van Gerwen has crashed out of the Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship against an old rival after he was outplayed by Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen has crashed out of the Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship after losing to old rival Gary Anderson.
It’s been ten years since the Flying Scotsman conquered the darting world – and he rolled back the years on Tuesday evening to get one over MVG one more time. Anderson was clinical on the outer ring as Mighty Mike faltered on the Ally Pally stage.
There were some messing about on doubles in the final set, but it was a darting disaster for the Dutchman who found himself having to hold and then break just to stay in the tournament. And Van Gerwen couldn’t was broken to end his World Championship spell.
“I knew Michael misses a few doubles now and again, but not that many. We pinched it at the end and happy to get through.
“I’ve never felt right since I got on the stage tonight and I don’t think Michael felt right as well. I was trying to feed off him and vice versa.”
“Michael Van Gerwen might be permanently washed,” one fan sighed on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Michael van Gerwen would really benefit from not playing the Premier League next year,” a second admitted. While a third shared: “2026 could be the year we see Michael van Gerwen begin to fall down the rankings. He will be defending a fair bit at next years worlds too…”
And another added: “The first time Michael van Gerwen has failed to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championship (barring the covid withdrawal) in a decade. Missed doubles in droves the story of his season in many ways.”
Its been a tough year for the Dutchman, who was keen to put his personal life troubles behind him at the World Championships: “I have had a tough year, probably my worst year ever,” he said.
“But still, last year I think my form was worse than it is now and I still need to find it. “Things were happening in the past, you can’t change it anymore. The only thing you can change is the future.
“I used to have a wife who helped me with things, but now when I have the kids, I have to look after them. So I have to adjust myself a little bit.
“My kids are always priority number one.”