"I'm quite irritated, lose this match purely through your own incompetence": Michael van Gerwen seething as Dirk van Duijvenbode wins marathon World Matchplay duel
PDCWednesday, 22 July 2026 at 14:10
Michael van Gerwen could barely hide his disappointment after his elimination by Dirk van Duijvenbode in the second round of the World Matchplay. The three-time world champion spoke openly afterwards about an unexpected physical issue, missed chances, and the frustration of a defeat that he felt was certainly avoidable.
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Van Gerwen began his analysis of the match visibly dejected. He was mainly angry with himself and felt he had thrown the match away. “I’m quite irritated,” he told Viaplay immediately afterwards. “You actually lose this match purely through your own incompetence.”
Shoulder trouble hampered Van Gerwen
According to Van Gerwen, the evening started with a setback. Just before the match he was hit by a physical problem, something that kept bothering him throughout. “Right before the match I felt pain in my shoulder. I don’t know where it came from, but it annoyed me enormously during the game. That really shouldn’t happen. Once it’s there, you can’t get around it.”
The physical discomfort, he said, mainly affected his feel in the opening phase. He couldn’t release his throw as he wanted and therefore missed the confidence with which he normally starts a match. “I couldn’t get my arm properly loose. You want your first darts to feel good so you build confidence. If that doesn’t happen, you start getting annoyed.”
Late surge came just too late
Despite the difficult start, Van Gerwen still clawed his way back into the match at the end. At 10-7 down, defeat seemed inevitable, but the former world number one kept believing in a turnaround. “Because you know you can do it. You just don’t show it at the key moments.”
Van Gerwen felt the difference ultimately lay in the decisive checkouts. One missed 89 checkout in particular kept running through his mind. “An 89 checkout like that just has to go in. You can’t miss that.”
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At the same time, he refused to downplay Van Duijvenbode’s performance. The Dutchman acknowledged that his compatriot is a dangerous opponent, especially when put under pressure. “Dirk is a good player. You have to deal with him too. If you put him under full pressure, he can crumble, but you have to force that. I did my best, but unfortunately it didn’t work out.”
Michael van Gerwen came off second best against Dirk van Duijvenbode
“If I lose to Dirk, I always blame myself for that”
When it was suggested that he would have little to reproach himself for, Van Gerwen responded with a telling remark. “If I lose to Dirk, I always blame myself for that.”
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That remark underlined how hard the defeat hit him. Not because he felt Van Duijvenbode had outclassed him, but precisely because he felt he had let the match slip. “This one hurts a lot. Absolutely. Because it wasn’t necessary. If he had outclassed me, it would be a different story. But that didn’t happen. That’s why you can hold yourself accountable for this.”
With those words, a visibly disappointed Van Gerwen left the interview area. The World Matchplay exit once again means an early end to a major televised tournament for the Dutchman, who is left above all with the feeling that there was much more in it.
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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