Everybody loves the darts but, apparently, not everybody respects the darts.
Michael van Gerwen is the best in the world at his discipline of choice but he was forced to endure one of the most disrespectful acts at a sporting event when he was showered with beer ahead of his walkout for his first appearance at the World Championships on Saturday evening.
The World No. 1 was on his way to the oche when he was forced to deal with an unwelcome drenching from a fan at Alexandra Palace, delaying his match against Alan Tabern.
Van Gerwen returned backstage to change shirts before composing himself to defeat his English opponent 3-1 in the second round.
BEER-GATE AT THE PALACE!!!
Watch the moment Michael van Gerwen is showered in beer as he prepared to make his walk on… pic.twitter.com/haePlOKsZ6
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 15, 2018
“It has never happened to me before. I did not know how to react, I was so angry,” Van Gerwen said. “The only thing I could do was change my shirt. It was quite difficult and I was quite emotional.”
Van Gerwen, who won the tournament in 2014 and 2017, managed to shake off the early distraction and threw four maximums to get his opener off to the start he would have wanted.
A PDC spokesman said: “The fan who threw the beer was removed from the premises. The PDC does not condone that sort of behaviour.”
An emotional Michael van Gerwen takes to the oche after having his entrance interrupted by a fan at Alexandra Palace.
However, he's taken the first set anyway! 💪
Watch live on Sky Sports Darts now or follow online: https://t.co/wsgJbOAlL6 pic.twitter.com/HVlp0aId4R
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 15, 2018
