Brilliant but emotional moment after Michael van Gerwen's Leverkusen win as daughter Zoë runs into her father's arms
PDCSunday, 12 July 2026 at 09:10
Michael van Gerwen has booked a convincing place in the third round of the European Darts Open in Leverkusen. The three-time world champion brushed aside Joe Cullen with a clear scoreline on Saturday evening. Thanks to a solid display, he sealed a 6-2 victory and took the next step in his pursuit of the title.
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Van Gerwen looked sharp from the start and gave Cullen hardly any chance to settle. With an average close to 100 and an excellent checkout percentage, “Mighty Mike” showed that his game is exuding confidence. In the key moments he was extremely clinical on the doubles, leaving Cullen chasing early and unable to claw it back.
The 6-2 scoreline was a fair reflection of the balance of power on the Leverkusen stage. Van Gerwen appeared relaxed, played at high tempo, and visibly enjoyed himself throughout the match. That bodes well for the rest of the Euro Tour event.
Special moment with daughter
After the match there was also a special moment that struck a chord with many spectators. As Van Gerwen celebrated his win, his daughter Zoë walked onto the stage. She sprinted straight to her father and jumped into his arms with delight. The Dutchman lifted her up with a smile, and father and daughter soaked up the applause together. Zoë also joined the post-match interview, with the pair rounding off the moment with a cheerful high five.
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Satisfied, but not yet at absolute top level
Van Gerwen looked back on stage on his display with satisfaction, though he stressed he is not yet at his absolute top level. According to the Dutchman there is more to come in his game, and he hopes to show that in the next round.
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Another stiff test awaits in the third round. There, Van Gerwen meets Australian Damon Heta. Van Gerwen will again need to hit a high level to reach the quarterfinals.
With the form he showed against Cullen and the confidence he appears to carry, Van Gerwen will nonetheless approach that clash in good spirits. If he can maintain his level and stay just as sharp on the doubles as in his opening match, he will undoubtedly be among the favorites for the title in Leverkusen.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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