Dutch darts superstar Michael van Gerwen has shouldered the blame for his emphatic exit from the PDC World Championship, describing both his and opponent Gary Anderson's performances as 'rotten'. The three-time champion was comprehensively beaten 4-1 by the Scotsman in the last 16 at London's Alexandra Palace on Tuesday, 31st December 2025.
Ally Pally Demolition Sees Van Gerwen Fall
World No.3 Michael van Gerwen was outclassed by the 14th-ranked Gary Anderson in a match where the statistics told a surprising story. Despite averaging a respectable 99.81, slightly higher than Anderson's 97.98, 'Mighty Mike' was punished for crucial errors. Anderson's superior finishing and heavier scoring, including three more 180s, proved decisive in a 4-1 sets victory that sent the Dutchman packing.
Van Gerwen was brutally honest in his post-match assessment. "From the start of the match, I let myself down in key moments," he admitted. "You can look at someone else, but in this defeat, I'm the culprit. I sold myself short." He rued missed opportunities, believing the match could have been level at 2-2 in sets before Anderson pulled away.
A Year of Mixed Fortunes for the Dutchman
The early departure caps a turbulent 2025 for Van Gerwen. His season peaked with a World Series of Darts win over Luke Littler in September, but has been marred by inconsistency. He suffered early exits at the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts, and last month failed to qualify for the Players Championship Finals after a poor run in floor tournaments.
Reflecting on the year ahead, Van Gerwen stated: "I know better than anyone that it's going to be a very important year. I'm not running away from that." He confirmed he would head home for a brief rest before returning to action in events in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, vowing: "It hurts that I don't always show it, but I won't give up. Ever."
Anderson Advances with Self-Deprecating Verdict
For the victorious Gary Anderson, known as 'the Flying Scotsman', the win sets up a quarter-final clash with Justin Hood on New Year's Day. A potential semi-final against either Luke Humphries or Gian van Veen awaits. Despite his triumph, Anderson was equally critical of the standard, quipping: "I think I was rotten. Michael was rotten. 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 itself saw Anderson race into a 2-0 lead before Van Gerwen rallied to take the third set with a phenomenal 116.51 average. However, Anderson raised his game to clinch the fourth and fifth sets, sealing a famous victory and ending Van Gerwen's 2025 World Championship campaign.
