Like a thief in the night, Michael van Gerwen disappeared from the World Cup on New Year’s Day. The three-time world champion did not want to give interviews after he was surprisingly eliminated in the quarter-finals by the unseeded Englishman Scott Williams (5-3).
Afterwards he quickly left Alexandra Palace in a taxi. Van Gerwen was not only deeply disappointed, he also did not feel well. Later his manager announced that the darts player from Vlijmen had problems with his stomach. Van Gerwen felt as if he had to throw up.
A darts player is not obliged to speak to the written press at the World Cup. But it has been agreed that players will answer questions on camera from the channels that broadcast the World Cup. Van Gerwen may receive another fine because he did not speak to Arjan van der Giessen from Viaplay.
Van Gerwen posted this message on X (formerly Twitter). “Unbelievable. This is not how I wanted to start 2024. I did not reach my top level and this loss hurts. Thank you for all the support during the World Cup.”
The physical discomfort may also explain the poor performance of ‘Mighty Mike’ in London. Van Gerwen had not lost a set at this World Cup until the quarter-finals, but failed against Williams, especially in the throw-out. He hit only 11 of 38 doubles.
Williams took all the time to give interviews after his surprising victory. The 33-year-old Briton was visibly overjoyed with the biggest victory of his career.
“I can’t believe it,” the winner said afterwards. “Based on talent, Van Gerwen is a level higher than everyone else. Every year I watch the Darts World Cup. And now I have simply defeated him and am in the semi-finals.”
Even before the first dart was thrown, Williams had a suspicion that Van Gerwen was not at his best on Monday evening. In the catacombs during the throw-in he saw that his opponent did not seem to be feeling well. “He often, really often sat with his arrows two or three millimeters below the triples.”
“He wasn’t the Van Gerwen we saw in the previous two or three games,” Williams noted. “But that’s not my problem.”
Seven years ago today, things went better for Van Gerwen: on January 2, 2017, he won one of his three world titles: