Champ Shows How to Lose in Style: Michael van Gerwen Applauds Opponent Following PDC Defeat

Even though Michael van Gerwen and the PDC World Championship authority haven't been on the best of terms since MvG was forced to withdraw from the last one, van Gerwen exemplifies the best qualities of a true sportsman in his post-match evaluation of the victorious Michael Smith in an interview.

The PDC World Championship, also regarded as the "World Cup" of darts, attracted a large and passionate fan base, both in person at the venue and through television and online streaming.

Their popularity can be traced from the hometown pub of the players and from slots online featuring the World Dart Championship. Combining the enthusiasm of slot machines with the classic pub game of darts, these online games started to receive recognition from both fans and punters looking for a fresh take on the game. And this year's finalist certainly put a new twist on that enthusiasm while giving the audience a run for their money.

Michael van Gerwen was defeated by Michael Smith (7–4) in this year’s PDC World Championship final at Alexandra Palace after a captivating darts game. Smith is now the new champion in the leaderboards, with Peter Wright in second place.

In an after-match interview, the former champion, MvG, praised Smith in glowing terms. He mentioned that Smith displayed excellent play all over the match. “We all know that: second set, seventh set, ninth set”, Gerwen had his chances.

He also mentioned how Smith will throw it all at you if you don't hit the marks. He also added that only he himself is to blame for the loss, but it doesn't diminish Smith's performance because he was brilliant throughout.

“I wasn't what I wanted to be,” he said, adding that one has to accept that it's part of the game. The moment the latest champion was requested to come over, van Gerwen briefly regained his composure before continuing to praise Smith, saying, “Fair Game.” It's safe to say that seeing their favourite player display such excellent sportsmanship in the face of defeat was heartwarming for the majority of the fans.

The Professional Darts Corporation currently ranks Dutch player Michael van Gerwen as the third-best darts player in the world. van Gerwen has won numerous major tournaments, including the PDC World Championship, the Premier League Darts, and the Masters. Records show that in the years that followed, he dominated darts, taking home 18 championships in 2015, and another 25 throughout 2016.

He is known for his aggressive playstyle and impressive scoring ability and has earned the nickname "Mighty Mike" for his dominant performances on the darts circuit. van Gerwen has also won the PDC World Championship with the Netherlands national team on two occasions.

The “World Cup” for darts this year comes to an end with Michael Smith taking home the trophy. While awaiting the next, to know more about Smith’s win, feel free to read our article on his triumph in the PDC Order of Merit.

The PDC World Championship is one of the most popular and prestigious tournaments in the world of professional darts. It is organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and features the top players from around the globe competing for the title of World Champion. The tournament is typically held in December each year at the Alexandra Palace in London and is televised to a global audience.