VAN GERWEN LEFT GUTTED AS ROTTERDAM CURSE STRIKES AGAIN
17/04/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN admitted he was “gutted” after his Rotterdam nightmare continued with another early Premier League exit.
The Dutchman crashed out on Night 11 at the Ahoy for the FOURTH consecutive year, suffering a heavy 6-2 quarter-final defeat to Jonny Clayton in front of his home crowd.
The match turned at 1-1 when MVG missed two darts to move ahead and was made to pay as Clayton reeled off four legs on the spin.
Mighty Mike managed to pull a leg back but The Ferret nailed in a clinical 170 checkout to seal the deal.
Van Gerwen was visibly frustrated afterwards, openly venting his disappointment at letting key chances slip.
He told Viaplay: “I’m absolutely gutted. If you create a good chance for yourself there, you have to take it.
“You have to be critical of yourself that you let it slip against a Clayton in this kind of form. That’s what annoys me.
“You know you’re up against a Clayton who’s in good nick and in a good flow. You try to break that, and it’s not easy.
“I’m so annoyed, because I feel so good. And then I don’t show what I can do. I think I play an okay match, but I’m so much better than this. Sometimes it just hurts my eyes.”
The world No.4 remains fourth in the table and in the play-off spots with five nights remaining.
Van Gerwen will look to bounce back in Liverpool, where he faces Josh Rock next Thursday.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
