VAN GERWEN CAN HAVE A “STINKER” IN BLACKPOOL

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN is capable of having a “stinker” at the World Matchplay.

The world No4 has failed to reach a major quarter-final this season after early exits at the World Championship, UK Open and World Masters.

Van Gerwen, 36, has flourished elsewhere picking up two titles on the World Series circuit and a ProTour crown.

But pundit Dan Dawson admits there are worries over MVG’s consistency under the bright lights.

He told the Darts Show: “I think there are question marks about Michael van Gerwen. You don’t know what you are going to get.

“Michael van Gerwen has the capability to go to Blackpool and play brilliant darts and win the title.

“There is absolutely no question about that. But Michael van Gerwen also has the capability to go up there and have a bit of a stinker.”

Mighty Mike faces Andrew Gilding in round one at the Winter Gardens on Sunday afternoon.

The pair are locked in at 2-2 in their last four meetings, with Gilding claiming the last triumph at the Slovak Open.

Former UK Open champ Gilding has thrived on the Blackpool stage reaching back-to-back quarter-finals.

Dawson believes Gilding has all the tools to trouble Van Gerwen on the oche and send him crashing out.

He added: “He’s got Andrew Gilding, who is an incredibly consistent performer.

“If Andrew Gilding gets into the quarter-final of this year’s World Matchplay, that is three years in a row he has done that.

“He got, like, [Jermaine] Wattimena as close as anyone to beating Littler at the Matchplay last year.

“He was excellent. Now if he reaches three quarter-finals in a row at the Matchplay, Gary Anderson has never gone back-to-back in quarter-finals at the Matchplay.

“He played a lot of them and he has won the thing. But he is a very, very difficult player to beat, Andrew Gilding.

“He has beat Van Gerwen recently on the stage at the Euro Tour. He has beaten Van Gerwen famously in the final at the UK Open.

“I don’t know what version of Van Gerwen we get. I think he has played some really good stuff.

“He won in Copenhagen on the World Series recently. But he doesn’t convince you like he has for so many years.

“You have absolutely no clue. I think Andrew Gilding has a massive chance of taking Van Gerwen out.

“That is only one of the seeded players who is looking at that draw.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning