Michael van Gerwen issued a scathing assessment of his own performance after beginning his Queensland Darts Masters campaign with a tense win over Bailey Marsh.
This year’s Premier League and World Matchplay victor was taken all the way to a final-leg decider by the young Australian but held his nerve to go through 6-5. Van Gerwen wasn’t the only seed to have a tricky day, with Jonny Clayton and James Wade both crashing out at the first hurdle while Gerwyn Price also had to win a deciding leg to go through to round two.
“I was 90 per cent at my best. Sorry, I was nine per cent at my best,” Van Gerwen joked to Online Darts TV after the win over Marsh. “Seriously I was absolutely shocking. It wasn’t great, you can only blame yourself. I’m not 100 per cent acclimatised to Aus and the timezone.
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“My practising went really well over the last few days but today I was a bit slow. Also, I was a bit tired. I hope it’s better tomorrow and over the next few weeks. I feel good thing – that’s the worst thing [about playing badly] – because I want to show that towards the rest, and it’s a bit frustrating.”
However, Van Gerwen is pleased to be Down Under after three years away because of the pandemic.
“The crowd is a bit flat because it’s the first time here [Townsville] and they don’t know what to expect. But I feel good to be back here, it’s amazing,” he said.
“I think I’ve done really well in the last few months. Also two European Tours [wins], two Pro Tours [wins] and also the two biggest televised tournaments so far this year.”
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Clayton was the first big name to fall, beaten by New Zealander Haupai Puha. There were mixed fortunes for Australia’s World Cup-winning duo of Simon Whitlock and Damon Heta.
Whitlock dumped out Wade 6-2 but Heta lost 6-5 to Price, who was one dart from hitting his fifth nine-darter of 2022. Fallon Sherrock fell at the first hurdle, losing 6-3 to Gordon Mathers.
The tournament concludes on Saturday with the last 16, quarter-finals, semis and final.
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