Willie O'Connor insits he cannot be 'intimidated' after stunning Michael van Gerwen in Dutch Darts Championship

STRONG-MINDED William O'Connor insists no-one in darts can intimidate him.

The Irish star booked a Dutch Darts Championship last 16 clash against Luke Woodhouse with a sensational success over Michael van Gerwen in Maastricht.

Despite facing the three times World Champion in his own backyard and having a massive home crowd willing on their local icon, O'Connor was unflustered by the situation and occasion as he secured a 6-5 victory.

PDC Europe Master of Ceremonies Philip Brzezinski put it to The Magpie afterwards that he looked full of confidence and swagger heading onto the stage for the crunch and he replied: "Listen, there's no player in this world that can intimidate me. If I can play my darts, that's it. Win, lose or draw. I hope they don't come up here and think they can intimidate me because it's the last thing they can do."

O'Connor was magnificent against MVG. He averaged almost 102, smashed three ton-plus finishes and went seven perfect darts into a leg as he sank one of the game's iconic figures.

He said: "It definitely was needed. I think the leg when I missed all those darts when I was on the nine darter, it let Michael back in. If I had won that leg, it might have been a little bit easier, but, look, I'm just happy to get over the line.

"Really, really good player. Obviously one of the best of all time, so to get a win over Michael on home soil is huge to me."

Image: Jenny Segers/PDC Europe