Michael van Gerwen criticized Michael Unterbuchner as ‘below par’ following his impressive 6-2 victory at the European Darts Grand Prix on Saturday. The Dutch player easily advanced to the round-of-16 after defeating Unterbuchner, who had made a light-hearted comment about facing Van Gerwen the day before.
Unterbuchner, who had caused an upset by beating William O’Connor in the first round, jokingly remarked, “Michael van Gerwen? Who’s that? No, no, just kidding. I’m looking forward to it.”
The three-time world champion was not amused by Unterbuchner’s remarks, stating after his win against the German, “He wasn’t joking. He’s one of those guys who try to be humorous. He has never defeated me before and he never will. He lacks the skill – even my lower-level performances are enough to beat him. But it doesn’t matter. On to the next match.”
During the game, Van Gerwen let his dart skills speak for themselves, showcasing an average of 91 and executing an impressive 102 checkout. His next opponent in the last-16 round will be fellow Dutch player Jermaine Wattimena, who triumphed over Kevin Doets in an all-Dutch encounter. Reflecting on the match, Van Gerwen commented, “Who cares? I won the leg, and that’s what counts. The audience is enjoying themselves, which is the main thing. It’s been a while since I last won here, so hopefully, I can give it a good shot tomorrow.”
Van Gerwen, who hasn’t won the European Tour event since 2018, expressed confidence in his track record but acknowledged Wattimena’s current form, stating, “I’ve always had the upper hand against him, but he’s a strong player. He’s currently performing well, so I need to ensure I bring my A-game tomorrow.”
In another surprising turn of events, Niko Springer defeated defending champion Gary Anderson with a remarkable 6-3 win. Springer, hailing from Germany, expressed his joy after the victory, saying, “It feels amazing. I have a lot of familiar faces here, whether family or friends – it’s not too far from home. I appreciate the support I received today and am truly thrilled.”
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