Michael van Gerwen was branded ‘nervous’ by opponent Ryan Joyce after being knocked out of the Grand Slam of Darts. For the first time since 2010, the three-time world champion failed to make it out of the group stages, beaten 5-4 after twice fighting back from two legs down.
Trailing 2-0 and then 4-2, ‘MVG’ rallied on both occasions and then appeared to be in control of the final leg.
However, after failing to take out 112, Joyce was then left needing 80 to spring a major shock.
And he needed just two darts to do it, following up treble 20 by nailing double 10 to book a place in the last-16. But afterwards, the 39-year-old suggested that neither man had been at their best.
“I’m happy to win obviously,” said Joyce. “That didn’t feel like a battle, it felt like we were both struggling a little bit. I don’t know, it’s a funny old game, I think both players were nervous at certain times.
“I felt like sometimes I could hit the treble 20, and sometimes I couldn’t. So I’m just delighted go get through, it was a big surprise because I really didn’t play very well.”
And immediately after Van Gerwen’s defeat, Michael Smith took to the oche in a bid to become the only former tournament champion to book a place in the last-16. However, he was duly hammered 5-0 by Belgian player Mike de Decker, who instead went through at the Englishman’s expense.
Joyce meanwhile, who has never played in a major final, will now face Gian van Veen for a place in the quarter-finals. Asked about his improved form this season, he remained modest, saying: “I think I’ve just been lucky. I don’t feel like I’m playing any better than normal.”