VAN GERWEN ADMITS RIVAL “DOES NOT HURT ANYONE”
14/02/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
By Aaron Nijjar
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN believes Ricardo Pietreczko “isn’t really good” and “doesn’t hurt anyone.”
The Berlin thrower won a Euro Tour title in 2023 and made it to the last 16 of the World Championship this year.
However, no German player has ever automatically qualified, or been picked as a wildcard, for the Premier League since its inception in 2005.
World No.3 Van Gerwen is the latest to weigh in – suggesting Germany need to up their oche game.
He said: “The spectators in Germany are phenomenal. I spend 15 weeks a year in Germany, I like it here.
“[But] Germany needs really, really good players. That’s what’s still lacking.
“[Martin Schindler, Gabriel Clemens and Florian Hempel] play good darts, but they have to take the next step now. That’s important for a country as big as Germany.
“The next step is, for example, the Premier League of Darts. There is still no German participant there. But that would be the next important step.”
When the three-time World Champion was asked about Pietreczko after he reached the last 16 of the World Cup, MVG delivered a final, almighty blow.
He added: “Ricardo isn’t really good. He’s a nice boy, I like him. But he doesn’t hurt anyone.”
‘The Green Machine’ returned to Premier League action last night (Thursday) and produced a stunning performance against Stephen Bunting, averaging over 109 in a commanding 6-1 victory.
Although, Van Gerwen had his run halted in the semi-finals, when he lost 6-2 to Luke Littler, who went on to win night two in Glasgow.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
