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 breezed into the round-of-16 by easily defeating Unterbuchner, who had made a light-hearted comment about facing Van Gerwen the day before.
After causing an upset by defeating William O’Connor in the first round, Unterbuchner jokingly remarked, “Michael van Gerwen? Who’s that? No, no, just kidding. I’m looking forward to it.”
The three-time world champion was unimpressed by Unterbuchner’s remarks and commented after beating the German, 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 skill – even my lower-level performances are enough to beat him, but it doesn’t matter. Onwards to tomorrow,” added Van Gerwen.
Van Gerwen showcased his skills during the match with an average of 91 and a remarkable 102 checkout. His next opponent in the last-16 will be fellow Dutch player Jermaine Wattimena, who triumphed over Kevin Doets in an all-Dutch encounter.
Regarding the match, Van Gerwen mentioned, “I had some good legs, although one leg with a double one was a disaster. Nevertheless, I won the leg, which is the most crucial. The audience is having a great time – that’s all that counts. It’s been a while since I last won here, so hopefully, I can give it a good shot tomorrow.”
In another surprising turn of events, Niko Springer defeated defending champion Gary Anderson, securing a notable 6-3 victory. Springer, hailing from Germany, expressed his joy at the win, saying, “(It) feels extremely good. I have plenty of familiar faces here – whether family or friends – as it’s not too far from my home. The support I received today was heartwarming and truly appreciated.”
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