"I just miss six darts. It makes no sense at all, I’m sick to my stomach": Michael van Gerwen crestfallen as World Series of Darts Finals title defence halted immediately

PDC
Friday, 18 September 2026 at 06:00
Michael van Gerwen and Daryl Gurney shake hands.
Michael van Gerwen could hardly comprehend his early exit at the World Series of Darts Finals. The defending champion had six match darts in AFAS Live against Daryl Gurney but squandered them all. The Northern Irishman duly capitalised and took the decider: 6-5.
ADVERTISEMENT
Van Gerwen initially trailed 3-0 but battled back impressively. Precisely for that reason, the eventual defeat hit even harder.
“I don’t get it. I come back so well,” he lamented afterwards on Viaplay. “I’m 3-0 down, and I think I throw 13, 13, 14, 15 and 13 darts. In the last leg there’s absolutely nothing wrong. I just miss six darts. It makes no sense at all. I’m sick to my stomach.”
Van Gerwen had two visits to close out the match but failed to find the required double. He was especially hard on himself for the first missed chances. “That just can’t happen. Especially not that first visit. You’re stuck on double 10 and you’re already making it very hard for yourself. I’m really absolutely gutted. Good grief. Totally unnecessary.”
Michael van Gerwen and Daryl Gurney shake hands.
Michael van Gerwen let victory slip against Daryl Gurney.
Gurney started superbly and raced into a 3-0 lead. Van Gerwen was satisfied with the way he fought back but took little solace from it afterwards.
“He starts well, of course. He starts the match fantastically. Then you have to claw your way back and try to arm yourself against that. I definitely did. Only to give a match away this easily, that just can’t happen.”
ADVERTISEMENT
After the six missed match darts, Van Gerwen still had to play a deciding leg. Mentally, the blow had already left its mark. “It feels like you’ve already hurt yourself so much. Your balls are on the chopping block at that moment, you know. I just shouldn’t even get into that position, and that’s on me. I’m really absolutely sick about this.”
claps 0visitors 0
loading

Just in

Popular news

Latest comments

Loading