“I am so proud of myself!”
And so you should be William O’Connor.
The Limerick native blitzed world number one Michael van Gerwen 6-1 during their second-round encounter at the Dutch Darts Championship.
Locals in Maastricht were left stunned as the Cappamore native held his nerve spectacularly at check-out time to make short work of former world champion van Gerwen.
🇮🇪 O'CONNOR THRASHES MVG! 🇮🇪
An astonishing scoreline in Maastricht as William O'Connor pulls off a 6-1 demolition of top seed Michael van Gerwen to reach the Last 16! 👏 #DDC18 pic.twitter.com/IezAR1YCuY
— Live Darts (@livedarts) September 8, 2018
Van Gerwen entered the contest on the back of seven European Tour triumphs this year and was aiming to make it eight on home soil. He had walloped O’Connor 8-2 earlier this year and was the heavy, heavy favourite for their second-round encounter.
He averaged just 88.5, however, and missed 11 doubles attempts as he struggled to close out legs. O’Connor was dialled in when given the opportunity to check out and he hit six doubles from seven closing attempts.
The contest was even enough in the opening stages, as both men took a leg, but the 32-year-old got into a throwing groove. Three of the final four legs that sluiced his way were stunning displays – a 13-darter and back-to-back 14 darters.
Van Gerwen took his defeat well and took to Twitter, soon after, to congratulate O’Connor again:
‘Well, what can I say? Sometimes it just doesn’t happen and tonight was that night.
‘No explanation or excuse, just well done to Willie O’Connor and thank you to amazing Dutch crowd for still cheering for me after. Have a great final day tomorrow. Little break for me then business!’
Well what can I say. Sometimes it just doesn't happen and tonight was that night.
No explanation or excuse just well done to Willie O'Connor and thank you to amazing Dutch crowd for still cheering for me after.
Have a great final day tomorrow.
Little break for me then business!— Michael Van Gerwen (@MvG180) September 8, 2018
O’Connor advanced to the last 16 and a Sunday evening meeting with Ricky Evans. Following his win, O’Connor declared, “I had the ‘undo-able’ task and I’ve done it!
“I always feel like I can beat anybody. Michael wasn’t on his game but my finishing has been absolutely unbelievable so if I can get my scoring together I’m definitely in there with a shout.”
