Dan Dawson on Van Gerwen’s horror World Matchplay draw: “That entire quarter is absolutely disgusting”

As part of the new Love the Darts podcast featuring Dan Dawson, Emma Paton and Polly James for Sky Sports, it was the former who ran the rule over Michael van Gerwen’s quarter at the World Matchplay with the Green Machine facing a tough route to seal his first title in Blackpool since 2016.

“That entire quarter of the draw is absolutely disgusting,” said Dawson on the Love the Darts podcast for Sky Sports.

“It’s ridiculous, you’ve got MVG and Adrian Lewis. Joe Cullen who missed a dart to beat MVG in the final of the Premier League against Damon Heta who is arguably the most consistent performer in terms of standard on the tour this year. James Wade who is a former winner and we know what Wade will do, he’ll be very dangerous.

“Luke Humphries one of the form guys, Nathan Aspinall back to somewhere near his best and Martin Lukeman the debutant thrown to the lions. If he gets through that and reaches the semi-finals, it’s the greatest debut in Matchplay history. Somebody comes through that has to be playing top level stuff to do so.”