Darts Ace Van Gerwen Secures Spot in European Darts Open’s Last Sixteen
Leverkusen, Germany – On Saturday night, world-renowned darts player Michael van Gerwen booked his place in the last sixteen of the European Darts Open, held in the German city of Leverkusen. The top-seeded Dutchman secured a 6-4 victory over Dylan Slevin in his second-round match, marking his first appearance in the tournament.
Securing a Bye in the First Round
As one of the top-16 seeded players, ‘Mighty Mike‘ received a bye in the first round of this European Tour event. Slevin, on the other hand, had to start in the initial round and progressed to the second round with a 6-4 win over Jamie Hughes.
Van Gerwen’s Victory Despite Challenges
Despite a moment of slackness that cost him a rebreak in the second and sixth legs, Van Gerwen ultimately pulled off the victory with a 78 finish in the tenth leg. However, the three-time world champion’s numbers were not entirely impressive, with an average of 92 and a finish percentage of 27%.
“What do you expect? A first match is always difficult. You just want to win,” Van Gerwen commented after the match, acknowledging the challenges of his opening encounter. He further expressed, “It didn’t go the way I wanted at the end. My game needs a little bit more work. I’m feeling good but hopefully I can show it tomorrow (Sunday).”
Van Gerwen’s Affinity for Leverkusen
Van Gerwen, who hails from Vlijmen, has won the European Darts Open five times in the past, making him a fan-favorite in Leverkusen. “This is a place which is not so far from my home, so I love this place. It’s always nice over here. The people are really polite and respectful. I think that is what darts also needs. There is too many troubles going on in the world, so let everyone enjoy,” the Dutchman concluded diplomatically.
The third round of the European Darts Open will take place on Sunday afternoon, before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final in an evening session at the Ostermann-Arena.
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