Importance Score: 35 / 100 🔵
Van Gerwen Withdraws from Berlin Premier League Darts Night Due to Injury
Darts sensation Michael van Gerwen has been forced to pull out of night nine of the prestigious Premier League Darts tournament in Berlin because of a shoulder injury. The abrupt withdrawal of the Dutch star, just moments before play was set to commence at the Uber Arena, has caused considerable disruption and confusion among fans and organizers alike. Van Gerwen was scheduled to face Gerwyn Price in a highly anticipated quarter-final clash.
Sudden Injury Forces Withdrawal
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) released a statement at approximately 5:30 pm, confirming Van Gerwen’s withdrawal from the BetMGM Premier League night in Berlin. The statement highlighted that despite hoping to continue his previous successes at the Uber Arena, where he secured victories in the 2022 Play-Offs and the prior year’s league night, the shoulder injury has made it impossible for him to compete.
Price Advances, Van Gerwen Suffers Points Deduction
Gerwyn Price automatically advances to the semi-finals due to tournament rules, receiving two crucial league points and a beneficial +1 leg difference.
Conversely, Van Gerwen departs from the event empty-handed and, furthermore, incurs a -6 leg difference penalty, a significant setback to his aspirations of securing a top-four position in the league standings.
Impact on Premier League Standings
Prior to night nine, Michael van Gerwen occupied third place in the league table with 13 points, firmly entrenched in a tight four-way contest for the remaining two coveted top-four spots.
Luke Littler currently leads the league table with an impressive 26 points and four nightly wins, while Luke Humphries trails in second place with 18 points. Both are widely tipped to qualify for the finals night.
Race for Top Four Intensifies
Gerwyn Price began the night in fourth position, level on 12 points with Rob Cross, while Nathan Aspinall closely trailed behind with 10 points.
Van Gerwen’s unexpected absence propels ‘The Iceman’, Price, into third place with 14 points, intensifying the pressure on Rob Cross and Nathan Aspinall to achieve positive results in Berlin.
Aspinall is set to compete against Stephen Bunting, who is yet to secure a win in the tournament, in the opening match in the German capital. Following this, Rob Cross faces a formidable challenge against Luke Humphries in the evening’s second quarter-final.
The final quarter-final match features Chris Dobey versus Luke Littler. The victor of this match will proceed to the semi-finals to face Gerwyn Price.
Price Battling Injury Concerns
Interestingly, Gerwyn Price had previously acknowledged his own injury concerns, admitting he was not at peak fitness before the Berlin event. “I’ve been struggling with a minor injury for the past week, and it’s still not fully recovered,” Price stated recently.
Despite the injury, Price expressed confidence gained from a ProTour win: “Securing another win on the ProTour this week provided a valuable confidence boost heading into the Premier League night on Thursday.”
Price also alluded to the competitive nature of the Premier League, referencing a prior match with Van Gerwen: “During the European Tour, I held a 4-1 lead against Michael but ultimately lost 6-4. It underscores that regardless of current form, these top players possess the ability to mount comebacks and secure victory, necessitating that I consistently perform at my highest level.”