Michael van Gerwen secured his place in the third round of the Czech Darts Open in Prague, but only after a real battle against Mario Vandenbogaerde. The Dutchman had to dig deep in stifling conditions, admitting afterwards that he was far from his best but kept fighting for every leg.
"My biggest mistake, I think, was chances to go 4-1 up," Van Gerwen reflected after his second-round win. "And of course, what you're saying, the conditions are tough, it's very hot in here, but I still had too many sloppy darts." The three-time world champion is currently searching for the level he expects of himself, and despite several lean spells, he managed to turn the match his way.
Van Gerwen was full of praise for the Prague crowd, who backed him loudly for almost the entire match. "I was trying really hard. Everyone knows I'm not in the form I want to be there," he admitted. "But I have to say one thing. I never, never, never had such an amazing crowd here. They were absolutely incredible to me and I only can be really appreciative for that."
The fans sang his name for long stretches, but the adoration also brought added pressure. "They think they did me a favour, but they put me under immense pressure, do you know what I mean?" said the Dutchman. "But this crowd, I want to say thank you to all of you."
Despite feeling excellent in practice backstage, Van Gerwen struggled to replicate that form on stage. "I was practising backstage and I was feeling really good, and my darts were flying in nicely, but up here I couldn't really do it." Still, he refuses to obsess over averages, insisting: "It doesn't matter how you win, as long as you win."
Asked about his nickname as the "Daddy of the European Tour" and whether it might be time for someone else to take that spot, Van Gerwen laughed but made his goal clear: "Of course, of course. My aim is to win it here." He also spoke of his special bond with the Czech Republic, saying, "I think I was one of the first darts players in this country with a big exhibition, and the hospitality they always gave me is absolutely phenomenal."
Van Gerwen now faces Wessel Nijman in the third round, knowing he must raise his level if he wants to mount a serious title challenge. For now, relief is the overriding feeling, but he has another important win in the bag.
