Michael van Gerwen criticized Michael Unterbuchner as being inadequate after a commanding 6-2 victory at the European Darts Grand Prix. The Dutch player easily advanced to the round-of-16 by defeating Unterbuchner, who had joked about facing van Gerwen the day before.
Following an upset win over William O’Connor, Unterbuchner humorously remarked, “Michael van Gerwen? Who’s that? No, no, just kidding. I’m looking forward to it.” Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion, did not take the jest well and commented after defeating the German, “He didn’t make a joke. He is one of those individuals who attempt to be humorous.”
“He has never defeated me and never will. He lacks the skill – even my lower-tier performances can overcome him. However, it doesn’t matter. On to the next day. But if he doesn’t recognize me, then who am I? The day I start worrying about Unterbuchner is the day I quit playing darts,” van Gerwen added.
Van Gerwen’s performance during the match spoke volumes. The 36-year-old achieved an average of 91 and executed a remarkable 102 checkout. His next opponent in the last-16 will be compatriot Jermaine Wattimena, who triumphed over Kevin Doets in an all-Dutch showdown. Van Gerwen jokingly stated, “Who cares? I won the leg, and that is what matters most.”
Van Gerwen has not clinched the European Tour event since securing his second title in 2018. He expressed, “Of course, I have a good track record. I’ve known Jermaine for a long time, since our days as youth players. To be honest, I have always had the upper hand, but he is a talented player. I need to ensure I perform well tomorrow.”
In another surprising turn of events, Niko Springer defeated defending champion Gary Anderson in a major upset at the tournament. Springer, a 25-year-old from Germany, achieved a remarkable 6-3 victory and will face off against the Netherlands’ Danny Noppert in the next round. Springer shared his excitement after the win, expressing gratitude for the support from his family and friends.
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