Darts World Cup: Van Gerwen is eradicated within the legends duel in slightly below 33 minutes | EUROtoday

John McDonald introduced the sport as a lot as attainable. Two legends have been about to take the stage, stated the Master of Ceremonies. Michael van Gerwen towards Gary Anderson – this World Cup spherical of 16 pairing outshone all the things. It was a promise to all darts followers. It was redeemed.

Anderson and van Gerwen ought to have a beautiful recreation to look at, simply as they’d carried out a number of instances earlier than. It was the 73rd assembly between the 2. These embody legendary matches such because the 2017 World Cup last, through which van Gerwen not solely received his second title, but additionally broke Anderson’s two-year dominance within the Ally Pally. Since the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup (6:1 for MvG), the duel on darts’ greatest stage had not taken place.

From the beginning, the Scottish double world champion considered late revenge for the defeat seven years in the past. Driven by the viewers, who clearly sided with Anderson from the walk-on onwards, he took the primary two units immediately, profitable the decider in every case. But van Gerwen additionally had his finest recreation and made it 1-2. Both leveled off at slightly below 100 factors on common. The quick tempo of the 2 additionally contributed to the sport being a pleasure for the spectators.

“Anderson is simply better in the key moments”

But it was Anderson who received over to his aspect. First he broke MvG twice to take a 3-1 lead. “Van Gerwen brought his best average. But in the key moments Anderson is just a little better,” analyzed commentator Dan Dawson on English TV on Sky Sports at the moment. Then the Scot benefited from his opponent’s double issues. Three-time world champion van Gerwen landed within the Madhouse with the rating at 1:1 within the fourth set and was additionally unable to make use of three arrows on double 1. Anderson was there.

And then the night’s leisure was over faster than anybody anticipated. Van Gerwen conceded the decisive break as a result of he once more missed three clear arrows on the doubles area. In the top, the world quantity three was dispatched in simply 33 minutes and 24 seconds. It is the primary time in ten years that van Gerwen has been eradicated earlier than the quarter-finals of a World Cup – excluding 2022, the place van Gerwen was taken out of the event early because of a optimistic corona check. For a reputation like “Mighty Mike”, the efficiency is a bitter disappointment.

Anderson will now face shock man Justin Hood within the quarterfinals. In the afternoon, the world quantity 86 utterly surprisingly eradicated the highest Northern Irish participant Josh Rock from the event with an impressive efficiency on the doubles (75 %). “He’s an excellent darts player, he’s fantastic,” Anderson praised his opponent.

Darts World Cup 2026, outcomes spherical of 16

Luke Woodhouse (ENG/25) – Krzysztof Ratajski (POL) 2:4

Jonny Clayton (WAL/5) – Andreas Harrysson (SWE) 4:2

Justin Hood (ENG) – Josh Rock (NIR/11) 4:0

from 8.15 p.m.:

Charlie Manby (ENG) – Gian van Veen (NED/10) 1:4

Michael van Gerwen (NED/3) – Gary Anderson (SCO/14) 1:4

Luke Humphries (ENG/2) – Kevin Doets (NED)

Luca Wiecek is sports activities editor for WELT. He can be reporting from Alexandra Palace in London till New Year’s Eve.