Michael van Gerwen criticized Michael Unterbuchner as being inadequate after a commanding 6-2 victory at the European Darts Grand Prix on Saturday. The Dutch player effortlessly advanced to the round-of-16 by defeating Unterbuchner, who had joked about facing van Gerwen the day before.
Unterbuchner, who had caused an upset by defeating William O’Connor in the first round, humorously remarked about facing van Gerwen, stating, “Michael van Gerwen? Who’s that? No, no, just kidding. I’m looking forward to it.”
The three-time world champion expressed his displeasure with Unterbuchner’s comments after defeating the German player, stating, “He didn’t make a joke. He is one of those individuals who try to be humorous. He has never defeated me before, and he never will. He lacks the necessary skills – even my lower-performing games would outclass him, but it doesn’t matter. Onwards to tomorrow.”
Van Gerwen demonstrated his dominance during the match, achieving an average score of 91 and executing an impressive 102 checkout. His next opponent in the last-16 round will be fellow countryman Jermaine Wattimena, who triumphed over Kevin Doets in an all-Dutch encounter. Van Gerwen reflected on the match, stating, “I had some strong legs, but there was one leg with a double one that was a disaster. Nonetheless, I secured the win, which is the most crucial thing. The audience is enjoying themselves – that’s all that counts. It has been a while since my last victory here, so hopefully, I can perform well tomorrow.”
Van Gerwen, who has not won the European Tour event since claiming his second title in 2018, acknowledged his strong record and anticipated a competitive match against Wattimena. Meanwhile, Niko Springer caused a major upset by defeating defending champion Gary Anderson with a remarkable 6-3 victory, setting up a match against Danny Noppert of the Netherlands.
Springer, expressing his joy after the win, stated, “It feels incredibly satisfying. I have a lot of acquaintances present here, whether it be family or friends – it’s not too far from my home. I appreciate the support I received today and am absolutely thrilled.”
In other news, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and comprehensive coverage of the Premier League and EFL. Sky offers over 1,400 live matches across various sports, including the Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, darts, and golf.
