Three-time champion Michael van Gerwen made a shock early exit from the PDC World Darts Championship on Tuesday, suffering a comprehensive 4-1 defeat to Gary Anderson in the last 16 at Alexandra Palace.
Van Gerwen Points Finger at Himself After Heavy Defeat
In a frank post-match assessment, the Dutch superstar, known as 'Mighty Mike', labelled himself the 'culprit' for the heavy loss. Despite boasting a higher match average of 99.81 compared to Anderson's, Van Gerwen was outgunned in the crucial moments. Anderson hit three more 180s and recorded a superior checkout percentage to seal a commanding victory.
"From the start of the match, I let myself down in key moments," Van Gerwen admitted. "You can look at someone else, but in this defeat, I'm the culprit. I sold myself short." He rued missed opportunities, suggesting the match could have been level at 2-2 in sets before Anderson pulled away. "You might still lose if it's 2-2, but 4-1 really wasn't necessary," he added.
Anderson Advances Despite 'Rotten' Comment
For his part, the victorious Scot, 'the Flying Scotsman', was surprisingly critical of the standard of play from both men. "I think I was rotten. Michael was rotten," Anderson commented. He acknowledged capitalising on Van Gerwen's uncharacteristic struggles on the doubles, stating, "I knew Michael can miss a few doubles but not that many. So, we pinched it at the end. Happy to get through."
The match saw Van Gerwen fight back from two sets down to claim the third with a phenomenal 116.51 average. However, Anderson raised his game in the fourth set and never looked back, closing out the fifth to book his place in the quarter-finals on New Year's Day, where he will face Justin Hood.
Looking Ahead to a Crucial 2026
The defeat caps a mixed year for the world number three. His highlight was a World Series of Darts triumph over Luke Littler in September, but he has since experienced early exits in other majors and failed to qualify for the Players Championship Finals.
Looking forward, Van Gerwen was adamant about the importance of the coming year. "I know better than anyone that it's going to be a very important year. I'm not running away from that," he said. After some rest, he plans to return to action in events in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain with renewed determination. "It hurts that I don't always show it, but I won't give up. Ever," he vowed.
Meanwhile, Anderson remains in the hunt for a third world title. A win against Hood would set up a semi-final clash with either Luke Humphries or Gian van Veen.
