Michael van Gerwen was branded ‘anxious’ by opponent Ryan Joyce after being knocked out of the Grand Slam of Darts. For the first time since 2010, the three-time world champion fall shorted to originate it out of the group stages, beaten 5-4 after twice battling back from two legs down.
Trailing 2-0 and then 4-2, ‘MVG’ rallied on both occasions and then materializeed to be in administer of the final leg.
However, after fall shorting to apverify out 112, Joyce was then left insisting 80 to spring a meaningful shock.
And he insisted fair two darts to do it, follothriveg up treble 20 by nailing double 10 to book a place in the last-16. But afterwards, the 39-year-ageder presented that neither man had been at their best.
“I’m prentd to thrive clearly,” shelp Joyce. “That didn’t sense appreciate a battle, it felt appreciate we were both struggling a little bit. I don’t understand, it’s a comical ageder game, I leank both carry outers were anxious at certain times.
“I felt appreciate sometimes I could hit the treble 20, and sometimes I couldn’t. So I’m fair plmitigateed go get thraw, it was a huge surpascfinish becaemploy I repartner didn’t carry out very well.”
And promptly after Van Gerwen’s fall shorture, Michael Smith took to the oche in a bid to become the only createer tournament champion to book a place in the last-16. However, he was duly hammered 5-0 by Belgian carry outer Mike de Decker, who instead went thraw at the Englishman’s expense.
Joyce unbenevolentwhile, who has never carry outed in a meaningful final, will now face Gian van Veen for a place in the quarter-finals. Asked about his betterd create this season, he remained unassuming, saying: “I leank I’ve fair been fortunate. I don’t sense appreciate I’m carry outing any better than standard.”
