Michael van Gerwen did not make a good turn in the last round in the Premier League. In the first round, he lost 6-4 to Michael Smith. This does not have major consequences for Mighty Mike, the darts player from Vlijmen was already qualified for the play-offs.
The honour, the prize money for a stage win and a dose of confidence. That was at stake for Michael van Gerwen during the sixteenth round in the Premier League. It was already clear in advance that he would advance to the Final Four as number two in the ranking.
Leader Jonny Clayton was six points ahead, while number three James Wade was six points behind. The winner of a round receives five points, so that nothing could change for the top two. Joe Cullen joined the first three with a win over Peter Wright, which means that the four darters who will decide who will win the Premier League on Monday 13 June 2022 are known.
bad general
Van Gerwen will play a few more matches before he plays the semifinals on June 13 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin. He will be active at the Dutch Darts Championship next weekend, where he will enter the second round and play against Sebastian Bialecki or Jelle Klaasen. It gives him a chance to wash away the feeling of a bad general.
Van Gerwen will have that feeling, because he had to recognize his superior in Michael Smith in Newcastle already in the first round. After ‘MvG’ impressed with a 155 finish, Smith then hurt him by breaking with a 114 finish. That small difference was enough to take the win.
Waiting for privacy settings…
Due to the defeat, it was the first time this Premier League season that Van Gerwen stepped off the podium for two rounds in a row after the first game. Last week it was the same Smith who treated him to a defeat.
Less concentration
Van Gerwen was honest with ViaPlay after the defeat. “It is difficult to concentrate. The absolute will to win is not there. Of course I am already qualified. Throwing in everything is more difficult, I am very disappointed. I just long for the final, I want to perform there.”
“I don’t have to lose to him at all. But if you are throwing at seventy to eighty percent, you can expect these kinds of results,” the current number three in the world continues his story. “I am happy that we are going to play the final in a week and a half, then the real prizes will be awarded. divided.” Van Gerwen cannot ensure that such a defeat continues. “It’s about the final. Then I’ll be there, don’t worry.”
Waiting for privacy settings…