✨ Discover this awesome post from BBC Sport 📖
📂 Category:
✅ Key idea:
Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen said he was “forced to work hard” by Japanese debutant Mitsuhiko Tatsunami to claim his first round victory at the PDC World Championship.
The 36-year-old Dutchman, who lost in last year’s final to Luke Littler, was a set behind to Tatsunami.
But the world number three turned that set around and easily advanced 2-1.
Van Gerwen then won a tense fourth set that went the distance, with Tatsunami wasting several chances to take the match to a decider.
“It was really difficult, I don’t know what happened,” said Van Gerwen, who will face William O’Connor or Krzysztof Cciuk on stage. “My first dart was constantly on the bottom [the treble 20] or higher.
“I was constantly trying and nothing really worked. I feel good but when you put yourself under pressure it doesn’t make it any easier.”
He added: “It was a great finish. I wasn’t afraid to score it, but when you score very badly and don’t do your best, you will bother yourself and you will have to deal with your own problems.”
“I just kept fighting my own battle in this game. I shouldn’t have put myself in that position.
“He’s not a bad player at all. He made me work hard for it.”
⚡ What do you think?
#️⃣ #PDC #World #Darts #Championship #Michael #van #Gerwen #defeats #Mitsuhiko #Tatsunami
