“This was actually a really crap game” - Michael van Gerwen gives brutal self-assessment after surviving six Madars Razma match darts in Riesa thriller

Michael van Gerwen reached finals day at the 2026 International Darts Open, but there was no attempt to dress up the performance afterwards.

The three-time world champion survived a major scare against Madars Razma, coming through 6-5 after the Latvian missed six match darts. Van Gerwen was blunt in his verdict, admitting he had escaped a match that never felt comfortable and warning that the same level would not be enough on Sunday. “Yeah, of course I got away with one,” Van Gerwen said after the match. “But I made it so difficult for myself, especially at the beginning of the game.”

Van Gerwen fell 3-0 behind despite Razma averaging only around the 80 mark at that stage, a rare position for a player normally so quick to punish an opponent below their best.

“I had so many chances, but it didn’t feel right today,” he said. “Maybe my concentration level wasn’t 100%. Then you only have yourself to blame. You can’t blame someone else.”

The match never properly settled into a high-quality rhythm. Van Gerwen battled his way back, but even after eventually crossing the line, his own review was ruthless. “Exactly. This was actually a really crap game. We all know that,” he said. “But what can I say about it? We can make it a long story, but I’ve won the game and I have to play better tomorrow. I know that.”

Van Gerwen also admitted the style of the match made it difficult to build momentum, with Razma’s pace and rhythm leaving him unable to settle.

“Also, with all due respect, he’s not the most enjoyable player to play against,” Van Gerwen said. “You don’t get any rhythm, especially when you are trying really hard and things don’t go really easy. You have to fight for it.”

Even so, the bottom line mattered most. “But more importantly, I won, and I don’t really care how I win,” he continued. “Of course I do, but if I win, that’s the most important thing.”

Van Gerwen was also asked about the fluctuation in his game, having recently won on the ProTour and produced a huge 122 average against Martin Schindler. His answer was simple: that is already gone. “Maybe, but it is what it is,” he said. “You need to figure out this, because that is in the past now. That is history. You need to look to the future.”

For Van Gerwen, the main issue against Razma was not ability, but focus. “I wasn’t concentrated 100% enough and that was my problem today,” he said. “I don’t know why, but sometimes you have those days.”

He also pointed to the demanding schedule as part of the reality players have to manage. “It’s a very busy schedule and you always try to be there 100%,” he explained. “You always prepare yourself well for a game. But things like this happen, unfortunately.”

Van Gerwen did take time to praise the crowd, saying: “I think the crowd was fantastic today, so thanks for that.” But his focus quickly returned to Sunday and the need for a much sharper display. “This has to be better tomorrow, otherwise you don’t have a chance,” he warned. “Simple as that.”

For Van Gerwen, the performance was forgettable. The result was not. After surviving Razma’s match darts, he remains alive in Riesa, and that was the one thing he was willing to take from a night he had no interest in pretending was better than it was.