Michael van Gerwen fixed his opponent. The Dutchman had just made it into the Quarterfinals of the Gibraltar Darts Trophy with a 6:4 score and now his gaze rested on Jose de Sousa.
Van Gerwen was pissed, shook his head at the defeated Portuguese with mock pity and, lost in thought, went to follow him off the stage. He almost missed the obligatory winner’s interview.
Which would have been a pity, because van Gerwen had a lot to report about his opponent. “It’s difficult against a player like Jose. I think he’s a good player but he makes too many mistakes. He’s like a beginner,” the number three in the Order of Merit started.
At first everyone would have laughed at his calculation errors. But the 2020 Grand Slam winner is actually much smarter than he is doing. “He’s doing it on purpose now, wants to be Mr. Big. He walks around saying he missed tops/tops. But he’s nothing,” said van Gerwen.
Portuguese with arithmetic weaknesses: José de Sousa occasionally throws onto the wrong field
Quelle: PDC/Jonas Hunold/PDC Europe
The situation that had sparked his anger was an attempt by de Sousa to erase 80 points with two darts in hand via tops/tops and also throw the second dart towards double 20 despite the first missed attempt.
An action that hardly justified van Gerwen’s counterattack. However, de Sousa is not particularly popular among colleagues anyway. Van Gerwen is now the first professional to say so.
“He wants to do a show and sometimes that just doesn’t work out. Especially not against me. That just spurs me on even more. He’s a good player, but he doesn’t need anything like that,” said van Gerwen, who met Nathan Aspinall in his quarterfinals (live on DAZN) in a repeat of the World Grand Prix final a week ago.
Results Gibraltar Darts Trophy
1 round:
Mario Vandenbogaerde (BEL) – Craig Galliano (GIB) 2:6
Jim Williams (WAL) – William O‘Connor (IRL) 1:6
Jason Lowe (ENG) – Manuel Vilerio (GIB) 6:2
Sean Negrette (GIB) – Kenny Neyens (BEL) 1:6
Steve Beaton – Justin Hewitt (GIB) 6:0 (no fight)
Ritchie Edhouse (ENG) – John Henderson (SCO) 6:4
Jeff Smith (CAN) – Wesley Plaisier (NED) 0:6
Marko Kantele (FIN) – Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (AUT) 5:6
Rowby-John Rodriguez (AUT) – Keane Barry (IRL) 6:3
Dyson Parody (GIB) – Ryan Joyce (ENG) 4:6
Stephen Bunting (ENG) – Daryl Gurney (NIR) 6:3
Chris Dobey (ENG) – Dylan Duo Jr. (GIB) 6:1
Ryan Meikle (ENG) – Josh Rock (NIR) 4:6
Martin Schindler (D) – Vincent van der Voort (NED) 3:6
Keegan Brown (ENG) – Mensur Suljovic (AUT) 0:6
Gabriel Clemens (D) – Adam Hunt (ENG) 6:2
Here darts professional Martin Schindler imitates his colleagues
Martin Schindler is not only one of the best German darts professionals. He is also an excellent impersonator. Here he recreates six world-class players. Do you recognize these players?
2nd round:
Rob Cross (ENG/5) – Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (AUT) 6:3
Ryan Searle (ENG/8) – William O‘Connor (IRL) 6:3
Dave Chisnall (ENG/16) – Wesley Plaisier (NED) 3:6
Dirk van Duijvenbode (NED/10) – Jason Lowe (ENG) 6:5
Danny Noppert (NED/12) – Ryan Joyce (ENG) 5:6
Jose de Sousa (ENG/15) – Rowby-John Rodriguez (AUT) 6:3
Damon Heta (AUS/6) – Chris Dobey (ENG) 6:4
Nathan Aspinall (ENG/7) – Vincent van der Voort (NED) 6:5
Michael Smith (ENG/4) – Josh Rock (NIR) 3:6
Luke Humphries (ENG/1) – Kenny Neyens 6:3
Peter Wright (SCO/9) – Craig Galliano (GIB) 6:2
Jonny Clayton (WAL/13) – Stephen Bunting (ENG) 6:2
Michael van Gerwen (ENG/2) – Steve Beaton (ENG) 6:3
Gerwyn Price (WAL/3) – Mensur Suljovic (AUT) 4:6
Dimitri van den Bergh (BEL/14) defeated Gabriel Clemens (D) 1:6
Joe Cullen (ENG/11) – Ritchie Edhouse (ENG) 6:4
Round of 16:
Luke Humphries (ENG/1) – Wesley Plaisier (ENG) 6:3
Ryan Searle (ENG/8) – Peter Wright (SCO/9) 1:6
Josh Rock (NIR) – Jonny Clayton (WAL/13) 6:5
Rob Cross (ENG/5) – Ryan Joyce (ENG) 6:4
Michael van Gerwen (NED/2) – Jose de Sousa (POR/15) 6:4
Nathan Aspinall (ENG/7) – Dirk van Duijvenbode (NED/10) 6:5
Mensur Suljovic (AUT) – Gabriel Clemens (D) 1:6
Damon Heta (AUS/6) – Joe Cullen (ENG/11)
Quarterfinals:
Luke Humphries (ENG/1) – Peter Wright (SCO/9) 1:6
Josh Rock (NIR) – Rob Cross (ENG/5)
Michael van Gerwen (NED/2) – Nathan Aspinall (ENG/7)
Gabriel Clemens (R) – Damon Heta (AUS/6)/Joe Cullen (ENG/11)
