Van Gerwen produces superb display to down Krcmar, Searle recovers to defeat Smith in high quality tie
PDC
Michael van Gerwen was dumped out at the World Grand Prix last week from a brilliant display from Danny Noppert but this time around at the European Championship, he wasn't wasting now time in making a statement.
ADVERTISEMENT
Van Gerwen was taking on Boris Krcmar, the impressive Croatian who many expected to give the Green Machine a scare but it was a 6-2 success with a 100.5 average and a high checkout of 128 with some flashes of the old MVG.
He kicked off with a 180 and an 11-dart break to stamp his authority early on before taking out 128 to double his lead.
At the interval, he was 4-1 up with Krcmar only getting a hold of throw and with a mountain to climb and a lot more when MVG went 5-1 up.
He held throw to make it 5-2 but Van Gerwen sealed the deal from there to move through.
Read also
While for Ryan Searle, he foreshadowed the brilliance of Mighty Mike with a brilliant display of his own.
'Heavy Metal' who has been excellent form this year has emerged as a force not only on the ProTour but on TV and showed that against Michael Smith.
ADVERTISEMENT
A resilient battle back from 3-0 down saw Searle edge through in a high quality contest 6-5 with both players averaging 102.
Racing into that lead, it was a 121 checkout on the bull which saw Searle break the brilliance of Smith to restore parity at 4-4. He suddenly went one away with a 60 checkout to make it 5-4 but a 13-darter saw a tie befitting of a decider.
But Searle pinned double 20 with Smith's 180 to pressure not enough to stop him reaching the finishing line.
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.
claps 1visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- [“The Gentle” then used a sweeping and questionable phrase...] You anglocucks are hilariously finished in every sense of the word.Critical99911-10-2026
- I love Jonny but I disagree. The Grand Slam was always supposed to be "champion of champions" type competition. If the top 16 are guaranteed participation in everything there will be so much less jeopardy involved in qualifying and each major tournament will lose its unique flavour which the PDC has worked hard trying to develop. I enjoy following the qualification races towards the end of the year, and while consistency should have its rewards, the truth is Jonny hasn't reached a major final all year or won a single event on the Pro Tour. Being consistent is one thing, but that alone should have consequences as the sport's elite should not be prepared to accept consistently strong performances, their foremost motivation should be to win and this should be what separates them from the rest, not the consistency of their performances. Jonny is expecting that losing should be enough; it shouldn't be, at least not as far as the Grand Slam is concerned.Deduce635811-10-2026
- Well being honest,it doesn't matter what level you play at, there's always someone who slows it down to suit themselves,and extra swig of water, replacing flights, asking the ref what the score is. It happens wherever. I'm not saying it's professional,but I'm sure we've all seen it beforerick6711-10-2026
- Agree completely. Not sure how a ranking event can have a criteria not based on rankings. And he right on popularity. In the UK second only to football.BandB11-10-2026
- Doesn't matter who's in it,it's boringrick6710-10-2026
- Assuming you qualify as one of the "muppets" in question. Classist too. And since you're so clearly interested in academia, look up "linguistic descriptivism" while you're at it. Oh, and better stay away from the working class sport of darts and maybe offer your insightful analysis to, let's say, croquet instead?Deduce635806-10-2026
- The consequences of being uneducated and grammatically challenged. "To all THOSE muppets not THEM " Everytime I see Arsepinall, I have an image of him wearing a cap, standing behind the counter of a fast food establishment.richieburnettrocks05-10-2026
- I don't understand Littler's reason for playing this tournament.rick6705-10-2026
- James Wade has become James Wide. He has piled on the tonnage considerably, he barely fits in his shirt.richieburnettrocks03-10-2026
- Littler will play whatever tournaments he decides. But does every headline have to start with him? Bristow bought Taylor through,and he followed that with Lewis. I can't see littler doing the same. Let him choose,and lose,he's getting good at that lately!rick6702-10-2026
Loading
