10:15 p.m
Van Gerwen does it
Mensur Suljovic needs 161 to win the decider. He hits the T5 instead of the T20 and has no chance anymore. Michael van Gerwen still has 48 points waiting to be checked. He hits the S16, misses the first D16 to complete the third dart for a 3-1 lead. It doesn’t matter how this turns out. Both players convince with great darts at an extremely high level.
22:13
Six perfect darts
What a machine! Michael van Gerwen starts the decider with six perfect darts. 141 points remain. Will it be the first nine-darter of this World Cup? No! The seventh dart lands in the easy 20.
22:12
The next decider is waiting
Michael van Gerwen forces the next decider. For 32 points he needs three darts because he misses the first two doubles, but he finally hits the D4. Who gets the fourth set?
22:09
Suljovic surprising on the doubles
Mensur Suljovic is playing the game of his life. He has now thrown 34 shots over 100 points. With T20, T18 and 16, the Austrian leaves 48 points. In MvG there are still 140 points that he can’t check because he misses the triple. Suljovic plays almost perfectly on the D16, but is now rebuilding on his own initiative. But with the S20 D14 he does everything right and secures the 2:1 lead in the fourth set. Suljovic’s check-out rate is currently an outstanding 82%.
22:06
The balance is there
Can Michael van Gerwen get through his break? With 122 points remaining, the task is quite large. Suljovic throws a 136 to 52 rest and increases the pressure on his opponent. MvG leaves the 122 and The Gentle gets a chance to get the break again. The darts land in the S20 and D16 and everything is back in line.
22:04
Directly the break for MvG
The Austrian starts again with a strong 140 in the fourth set, but once again the answer from his opponent is a 180. Mensur Suljovic has 120 remaining and is aiming for the T20. However, it becomes the T5 and he can no longer put down the finish. Van Gerwen has 50 remaining, which he doesn’t tackle with the bullseye. He rebuilds and likes to take the D16 with him to the break.
22:02
Suljovic turns it up
The average for Michael van Gerwen has dropped significantly compared to the second set. With around 96 points, he throws more than 20 points less than in the previous sentence. He now faces the Big Fish for a break. Will he make it? T20 sits twice and all eyes go to the bullseye. The tension rises, but he misses the red center. What does The Gentle do? He doesn’t hesitate for long, takes out the 51 and wins the first set.
22:00
Break for Suljovic
Then The Gentle also misses the triple and can only face 142. Van Gerwen follows suit with 117 remaining. Can one of them get the high finish? Suljovic hits T20, T20 and leaves the D11 as close as possible. What is the Dutchman doing? He also misses the 117 and so there is still a chance for the Austrian. The D11 sits with the first throw and so there is a break for Mensur Suljovic.
21:59
Chances for Suljovic
Now MvG eases off a bit and shows two shots without a triple. Mensur Suljovic does it a little better, but with three times 100 points he cannot clearly pull away. The finish isn’t there yet.
21:57
Contested Leg
Mensur Suljovic starts with a 140, but Michael van Gerwen goes one better. At 180 he throws three perfect darts. The Austrian still has 121 points on the clock and has to check them. He hits the T20 but then misses the T11 as the dart slips into an easy 8. Van Gerwen wants to check the 81, but misses the bullseye quite clearly. The D20 for Suljovic bring the 1:1 equalization in the third set.
21:55
Van Gerwen is off to a good start
Michael von Gerwen starts again with his own throw. He throws a 140 to 153 point rest and even waves it off because it should be a 180. MvG throws a 121 and leaves the 32 points as the remainder. Suljovic hasn’t reached the finish area yet. Von Gerwen misses the D16 and hits the easy 16, but he doesn’t miss the D8.
21:53
121 average by MvG
It’s a confident 2-0 lead for Michael van Gerwen, who ended up averaging 121 points in the second set. This is just out of this world. Mensur Suljovic plays a constant 103 points and is still amazed. Let’s continue with the third sentence.
21:48
Great game
What strong nerves! Michael van Gerwen throws the next 180. He then throws only a 44, but is the first player to get into the finish area. He doesn’t make the 164, but he doesn’t have to, because the Austrian needs one more shot to get into the area of checkable numbers. But van Gerwen doesn’t leave a chance, because he checks the 64 via the T16 and D12. It’s an almost perfect match from the Dutchman.
21:47
The decider is waiting
With just eleven darts, Michael van Gerwen throws himself into the decider. Who gets the second set?
21:46
Direct re-break!
But Michael van Gerwen doesn’t hesitate for long. He took the lead in the ensuing leg and took the break back via Bullseye for double 16. The current average is 121 points. But Mensur Suljovic also averages more than 107 points. What an outstanding game!
21:44
Break for the Austrian
At MvG there are still 124 points left. Does he close the sack? No, the first two darts are spot on, but he narrowly misses the D12 in the end. The Gentle still have 60 points to break. He hits the S20, misses the D20 by nuances. One dart remains for the D10. does he meet her Yes! The break is here!
21:42
Suljovic starts well
MvG misses the high finish and Mensur Suljovic is allowed to play again. So far he has a 100% quota on the doubles. does it stay that way Yes! He has 66 left and gets his throw through with the D16.
21:36
Bogey number for Suljovic
Mensur Suljovic starts the second set. He starts with a 100, whereas van Gerwen puts a 140 straight onto the board. The Austrian hits another 100 and can’t increase the pressure on his opponent. In the end, Suljovic faces 166, a bogey number. Michael van Gerwen, on the other hand, can break with the 124.
21:36
Van Gerwen gets the first set
Michael van Gerwen gets two shots to win the first set. It shouldn’t be the 164 yet, but he puts up the 24 perfectly. The first dart lands in the easy 12, but the D6 gives the favorite the first set win. Mensur Suljovic has done well so far and doesn’t need to hide behind van Gerwen. Both look back on an average of over 100 points.
21:32
It goes into the decider
Strong fourth leg by both with Suljovic and van Gerwen hitting the 180. Mensur Suljovic checks the 46 via the S14 and the D16 and fights his way into the decider.
21:30
Everything in order
Van Gerwen almost manages the first high finish of the evening. 110 points are still too much and he misses the dart on the D16. But since The Gentle can’t check yet, MvG gets the next opportunity and places the first arrow safely in the D16.
21:28
MvG skips it, Suljovic is there
MvG launches perfectly into his opponent’s launch leg. Suljovic misses the T20 in the end and so it is the Dutchman who again comes first in the finish area. 90 remain. Is it the break? He goes over the bullseye, 20 and misses the D10. Mensur checks the 46 and holds his throw.
21:26
First leg for van Gerwen
With 167, Van Gerwen has the first finish that he cannot check. There are 74 remaining, which he starts over T11. He checks the D16 for the first leg win, also because Suljovic previously failed to make the Big Fish.
21:25
Printed by van Gerwen
In any case, the pressure is on the shoulders of the Dutchman, who has a lot to lose in this game. After the retirement of Peter Wright, the chance for him to become number one in the world again at the end of the world championship is getting closer and closer.
21:24
game on!
The two players have arrived on the stage. As usual, the hall was completely bathed in green light during Michael van Gerwen’s Walk On. Van Gerwen was able to win the bull out and starts this match with his own throw.
21:11
Suljovic in the outsider role
Austrian Mensur Suljovic wants to thwart Michael van Gerwen. The Gentle is now looking back on his 15th participation in the World Championship. So far, it was over for him in the round of 16 at the latest. He has this goal firmly in his sights today, because with a win he would move into the top 16 darts players for the fourth time. But it won’t be an easy task, because his record against the Dutchman is not positive. In 18 encounters, Suljovic was only able to win three games.
21:08
Favorite at the start
After Michael van Gerwen had to experience a career low in 2020, he is celebrating something of a resurrection this year. The darts are easy in hand again and the Dutchman has already won important titles such as the Premier League, the World Matchplay, the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals. Even before the World Cup, MvG has named itself the absolute top favorite for the 2023 World Cup title. One thing is certain: there will be no getting around him any time soon.
21:07
Welcome
Good evening and welcome to the second duel of the evening. The first game is history and has found a deserved winner in Joe Cullen. Michael van Gerwen and Mensur Suljovic are ready and can hardly wait for their walk on. The mood at Ally Pally is boiling.