Michael van Gerwen finally got over the line against Maik Kuivenhoven who he had never beat in a competitive match but he survived a scare in his opening tie at the World Series of Darts Finals.
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Van Gerwen survived six darts to be taken to a decider and claimed it 6-4 but was left disappointed by his display and believes he was trying maybe too hard.
"Maybe I was trying too hard in front of my home crowd, but it was a hard game," said Van Gerwen.
"I'm disappointed in myself a little bit because my preparation was good. I feel good and that's the most important thing.
"Overall, of course I could have done a little bit better here and there but I won my game and that's the most important thing.
"To play in front of these fans was absolutely amazing. I'm glad to be back and I hope I can show them some more action tomorrow.
"It means a lot to me - everyone knows I've been going through a really rough period for myself, and then to have to perform in front of your home crowd makes it slightly difficult and makes you want to win even more.
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"I know there's still a lot of work to do but I feel good about it."
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.
𝗠𝘃𝗚 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗦 𝗜𝗧!
Michael van Gerwen sets up a tantalising quarter-final clash with Mervyn King after securing a hard-fought 6-4 success over Maik Kuivenhoven!