"If I stay myself and play my best game, I can beat anybody": Arno Merk ready for potential Van Gerwen test after Wright upset

Arno Merk described himself as “overwhelmed” after producing one of the shocks of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, defeating two-time world champion Peter Wright 3–0 in straight sets at Alexandra Palace.

The German qualifier, who booked his place at the tournament via the PDC European Super League, could scarcely believe what he had achieved as he reflected on the biggest win of his career at the PDC World Darts Championship. “I can’t believe it,” Merk said post match. “I just beat a two-time world champion, a legend of the game. I’m so happy and I can’t wait to celebrate with my friends.”

Merk was ruthless on the doubles and capitalised on an unusually subdued display from Wright, closing out a comprehensive victory without dropping a set. “To not just beat a former world champion, but to beat him in straight sets, of course it’s a really special feeling,” he admitted. “But to be fair, Peter didn’t show his best match. I was clinical and I took my chances. All in all, I think it’s fine that I won 3–0.”

The win sends Merk through to the third round of the biggest tournament in the sport, something he ranked above anything else he has achieved in darts. “It’s the biggest win of my career,” he said. “To be in the third round of the biggest World Championship ever, it’s by far the biggest win of my career.”

Merk revealed he felt confident heading into the match after analysing Wright’s opening-round performance. “I watched his first game,” he explained. “His doubles were really good, but he didn’t score that well. So I thought, if I score well and take my chances — like in the first game I had around a 40 per cent doubles percentage — I can win. I even increased my doubles percentage and scored even better, so I was really confident to win this game.”

Despite racing through the match, Merk was conscious of the dangers of thinking too far ahead — something he learned from his opening-round victory. “It was even harder in my first match because it was my first World Championship,” he said. “I was ahead 2–0 against Kim and I was thinking, ‘Oh, I can win 3–0.’ I didn’t make this mistake again, so I could win 3–0 this time.”

Asked to put his emotions into words after the final dart, Merk struggled to do so. “It’s really crazy,” he said. “Everything is going through my body. I can’t describe it in words.”

Attention now turns to a potential third-round clash with another former world champion, Michael van Gerwen, though Merk is aware of the challenge posed by William O’Connor. “If I play like today and take my chances, I can be dangerous for anybody,” he said. “I think I will play MVG, but William O’Connor played a really good first round, so let’s see what happens.”

Merk believes the set format of the World Championship gives him a genuine opportunity to go even further — and possibly secure a PDC Tour Card. “In this set format, everything is possible,” he said. “You’ve already seen many top players struggle a little bit, playing under a 90 average. I think I can beat anybody if I stay myself, and I can be dangerous for them.”

Looking back at Wright’s performance, Merk felt there was a clear contrast to the Scot’s world title-winning form. "It’s a very big difference,” he said. “He played under an 80 average. Normally he never plays under 90, so I took advantage of Peter today.”

Merk’s journey back to the World Championship stage has not been straightforward. After stepping away from darts in his younger years, he prioritised football, a decision that ultimately led to serious injuries. “I was a big talent, but I never practised,” he admitted. “I wanted to play football and go out with friends. Then I got many injuries from football, an ankle break and a knee injury and I returned to darts three years ago. I’m 33 years old now, I don’t want to play football anymore. I’m only focused on darts, and I think I can reach a higher level.”

His comeback gathered momentum following a German Super League qualifier in 2023. “A friend of mine tagged me in a post and said I had to go there,” Merk recalled. “I qualified and lost in the quarter-finals, but I kept going, and right now I’m a better player than ever.”

Off the oche, Merk balances darts with full-time work in Germany. “I work at Siemens Mobility in Brunswick,” he explained. “I’m an object manager and I coordinate a 12-man technical team.”

He also drew inspiration from the growing strength of German darts, fuelled by vocal support at Alexandra Palace. “In Germany, the quality has increased a lot,” he said. “We have Martin Schindler, our number one, a really, really good player. Nico Springer is climbing the rankings. If the German crowd supports us, I think we can have a major champion soon.”

As for a potential meeting with van Gerwen, Merk is respectful but not intimidated. “He’s a legend of the sport. He dominated darts for ten years,” Merk said. “But if I stay myself and play my best game, I can beat anybody.”