"You feel like a very small boy": Dirk van Duijvenbode describes the 'aura' of Dutch kingpin Michael van Gerwen after marathon win
PDCTuesday, 21 July 2026 at 23:46
Dirk van Duijvenbode produced an epic win to reach his second Quarter-Final at the World Matchplay taking down Michael van Gerwen 14-12 in overtime.
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A battle of two Dutch juggernauts, Van Duijvenbode admitted that playing Michael van Gerwen makes you feel like a small boy on the stage as he spoke to the media including DartsNews.com post match.
"In the end you're just happy. Obviously I was joking, buckling it. In the end, to just get over the line is just happy days," said Van Duijvenbode to the media including DartsNews.com.
"Well, last year we played in the Grand Prix and I also won it. Then I didn't have this... well, a little bit, because I could have won it 3-0, 3-0, 3-0. But it just struck me. I went nervous. At 8-4 up, I went nervous. It went 8-6 and I was like, "Compose yourself."
"Then it went 8-7 and I was like, "Compose yourself." 9-7, 10-7. Composed myself and then nervous again.
"In the end I'm just happy. You feel like a very small boy when he's hitting a lot of trebles and the crowd is all Michael van Gerwen. You feel like a really small boy. I was able to turn things around with the 180, 180 and the 125 finish and hit that leg."
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He touched upon the difficulty also that is faced with taking on multiple top 16 players when the top names only have to play one so it makes it a lot tougher in his view. "Well, let's be honest, if you're not in the top 16, the draw always decides how easy you get to the quarter-finals. I don't think I had an easy draw this week.
"When you're in the top 16, most of the time you play one top-16 player to make a quarter-final. Now you always have to play two. It could be world number one or number 16 or whatever. It's always hard.
"It's just harder to make quarter-finals if you're not in the top 16 because of the seeding. Obviously, I'm happy that it's the second-highest ranked event of the year where I've made it."
Van Duijvenbode stuns Van Gerwen.
Asked if he now changes his tact given he has made another Quarter-Final, Van Duijvenbode's thoughts were crystal clear. "Man of my word. So, no. So they're trying to disrespect me for my words last time. The only thing is, I was playing Danny Noppert last time, who doesn't give any emotion.
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"Now, obviously, I'm playing Gary. Great tempo. So I think this game will be different from the last quarter-final I played."
Van Duijvenbode rubbishes questioning about Anderson nerves
Also asked about Luke Humphries going out and Luke Littler having a good game, Van Duijvenbode wasn't plussed about the line of questioning saying that he wouldn't meet them this early anyway.
"You're talking about players that I meet a game after that, so I only focus on the game ahead of me. I can focus on the final and then lose in the first round. I don't do that.
"I focus on the next round. If you think I should focus on multiple things, other players than Gary, then you're disrespecting Gary.
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"I'd just be happy to beat Gary. I don't even look further because Gary is a very good player. No, I don't look at the game after that and the game after that because maybe I'm world number 27."
"Oh, now you're speaking about Anderson again! You're talking about Littler and Luke... you're going all the way.
"I'll focus on my opponent next, which is Gary Anderson, one of the best players who's ever lived. I'll focus on him. And now you came back to him?"
Gary Anderson is next.
Asked about whether Anderson will feel nervous given that the trophy is in sight and Van Duijvenbode rubbished the question. "Serious question? Well, it felt like a joke question. Wait... this is my second quarter-final, so who's more nervous? He won it, and now he's making his second quarter-final since 2020, and I'm making my second quarter-final ever.
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"Come on, focus. You can do better. You're asking me how he should feel. Ask him. No, I'm not angry, but focus, man. You can do better. You know you can do better."
Aura of MVG
He touched upon saying he felt like he was a little boy and admitted that the aura of Van Gerwen as a Dutchman is a sight to behold and that certain players will make you feel like that.
"You see his aura. He has a big aura around him. It wasn't there the whole game, and then it came.
"Then he started playing his best darts in the tie-break. In combination with the crowd being on his side, then you feel like a little boy.
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"Well, I'm just talking about a certain situation. I'm not saying it's the player particularly, but Michael van Gerwen is one of the best players ever.
"So Phil Taylor could be in that position, and maybe Barney as well. I played Barney at the World Championship when I was really young and inexperienced, and then you hear the "Barney Army!"
"It's really intimidating sometimes when you're the opposing player. But you can stop it with a good visit, and that's what I did at 12-all."
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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