Michael van Gerwen went down in the second round of the European Championship last weekend. Afterwards, he lashed out at the PDC, who "could kiss his bum. His good friend Vincent van der Voort understands that outburst.
Van Gerwen was dismayed by the conditions at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, where he said there was so much wind blowing across the stage that he did not reach his normal level. "He was really fierce, but his reaction is actually quite logical," Van der Voort responded in the podcast'Darts Draait Door'.
"This is an interview a minute after he lost. As a Dutchman, you are also the only one to give an interview after a defeat. The English and the rest of the darters are in the parking lot within thirty seconds, get in their car and are gone. They can vent with their partner and manager. Van Gerwen is immediately put in front of the camera," Van der Voort said.
Multiple complaints
Van Gerwen was not the only one who complained about the wind in the hall, Luke Humphries, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Danny Noppert also expressed their dissatisfaction with the course of events in Dortmund. Van der Voort knows from experience that it also happens regularly at other tournaments. "Then you rant to the organization over and over again that they should do something about it. There really are possibilities. Try something. Then you at least give the players the idea that they are doing everything they can. But it's shouting in a vacuum. They're not listening. Then frustration sets in."
"It's not the first time something like this has happened with the wind. Players get more and more irritated because of it. When you complain, you hear them at the PDC saying they are going to look into it and do something, but then nothing happens at all."