Michael van Gerwen is out of Players Championship 7. (Image: Getty)
Michael van Gerwen is out of the Players Championship 7 event in Germany after a shock defeat to world No.111 Niko Springe. The German player beat the three-time world champion 6-3 to move into the third round, compounding Van Gerwen’s recent poor run of form.
Trailing 5-3 in the best-of-eleven-leg clash, ‘MVG’ seemed set to cut the deficit when he had three darts at double 20. However, he missed each one, giving Springe the opportunity to take out 86.
The 24-year-old needed just two darts, hitting a treble 18 before finding double 16. A despondent Van Gerwen looked downbeat afterwards, shaking his opponent’s hand before trudging off stage.
The defeat comes just three days before is due to take on world No.1 Luke Humphries in the next Premier League Darts meeting in Cardiff. Van Gerwen has failed to make the final in any of the six meetings so far, although still lies fourth in the table on 10 points.
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SPRINGER DUMPS OUT MVG! ????????????The only Premier League player competing in Hildesheim is out!Niko Springer is through to the second round of Players Championship 7, defeating Michael van Gerwen 6-3!??????
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC)
Last Thursday in Nottingham, he reached the semi-final stage before a harrowing defeat to eventual winner Gerwyn Price. The 35-year-old was hammered 6-1 and has now missed the opportunity to regain some form before heading to Wales.
Van Gerwyn was the clear favourite in Hildesheim, and was the only Premier League player competing in the tournament. After his defeat to Luke Littler in the final of the PDC World Championships in January, he’s still searching for a first tournament win in 2025.
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