Michael van Gerwen criticized Michael Unterbuchner as ‘not up to par’ following a commanding 6-2 victory at the European Darts Grand Prix on Saturday. The Dutch player smoothly advanced to the round-of-16 by defeating Unterbuchner, who had made a light-hearted remark about facing Van Gerwen the day before.
After causing an upset by beating William O’Connor in the initial round, Unterbuchner joked, “Michael van Gerwen? Who’s that? No, no, just kidding. I’m looking forward to it.”
However, the three-time world champion took offense to the comments and stated after defeating the German, “He didn’t make a joke. He is one of those guys who try to be funny.”
“He has never defeated me and never will. He lacks the skill – even my lower-level performances are enough to beat him. But who cares? Onward to tomorrow,” Van Gerwen added.
Van Gerwen showcased his prowess during the match, recording an average of 91 and executing a remarkable 102 checkout. His next opponent in the last-16 stage will be compatriot Jermaine Wattimena, who triumphed over Kevin Doets in an all-Dutch encounter.
Reflecting on his performance, Van Gerwen commented, “I had a few good legs, but even the leg with a double one was a disaster. Who cares? I won the leg, and that’s what matters the most. The audience is enjoying themselves – that’s the primary focus. It has been a while since I last won here, so hopefully, I can put up a good fight tomorrow.”
Van Gerwen expressed his desire to perform well in the tournament, noting that he has not claimed the European Tour event title since his second victory in 2018. He acknowledged his history of success against Wattimena but recognized his opponent’s current form and emphasized the need to deliver a strong performance in the upcoming match.
In another notable result, Niko Springer caused a major upset by defeating defending champion Gary Anderson with a remarkable 6-3 win. The German player will now face Danny Noppert from the Netherlands, who emerged victorious against Oskar Lukasiak of Sweden.
Following his victory, a jubilant Springer, aged 25, expressed, “It feels extremely good. I have a lot of acquaintances here, whether family or friends – it’s not too far from my home. I appreciate the support I received today and am absolutely delighted.”
In an unrelated update, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to include additional streaming services like HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu. The package offers access to 135 channels and comprehensive coverage of the Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, darts, and golf.
Sky provides extensive live sports coverage, airing over 1,400 matches across the Premier League, EFL, and various other sports, including at least 215 live Premier League matches, Formula 1 races, darts tournaments, and golf events.
