Bizarre injury that forced Michael van Gerwen to miss Premier League Darts event revealed
The bizarre injury that forced Michael van Gerwen to miss the most recent night of Premier League Darts action has now been revealed.
Three-time world champion Van Gerwen was due to face Gerwyn Price in his quarter-final on night nine in Berlin last Thursday but pulled out just minutes before the match got underway, with the Welshman given a bye straight to the semi-finals.
Remarkably, Stephen Bunting was ultimately victorious on the night, despite not having won a single match in the previous eight events, while Luke Littler is still in control at the top of the overall table.
And it has now come to light that Van Gerwen suffered a neck injury ahead of the event, which occurred in freak circumstances – namely when he was putting on a shirt.
"Michael hurt himself in the afternoon, it was really unfortunate," veteran darts player Vincent van der Voort, who is Van Gerwen's friend, told the Darts Draait Door podcast.
"He was trying on some shirts for his sponsor, and as soon as he put one on, he said something didn't feel right. He could barely move his neck.
'He went to a physiotherapist, had a massage, even took muscle relaxants. He gave it a go, but it just wasn't happening. We ended up going back to the hotel, packed up, and drove home. I was back home by 2am."
The injury went on to rule Van Gerwen out of the International Darts Open in Riesa and also dented his prospects of reaching the Premier League Play-Offs as he chases an all-important top-four spot.
The Dutchman is currently third in the table, just a point ahead of those chasing him, but he is fit to compete at night 10 in Manchester this evening, where he will hope to regain momentum.
He faces Chris Dobey in the quarter-finals, while local favourite Littler starts his quest for a fifth nightly win.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
13 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland midfielder rejects Championship offers to join former Premier League side in third tier
The 32-year-old was confirmed to be leaving Millwall at the expiry of his contract and had interest from multiple sides that would have seen him remain in the second tier. However, the international star has instead opted to step down a level and join the Hatters, who only two years ago were in the Premier League but have suffered the ignominy of going down two years in a row. Despite that, Saville, who played 45 of Millwall's 46 games last season as they just missed out on the Championship Play-Offs, believes he has made the right move for himself. "It's been a tough couple of years for the club but this is now a chance to correct that. Speaking with the manager, and what he wants to do, there's a chance to build something, create a good atmosphere and have a good season,' he said. "I had offers in the Championship but since the first conversation with the manager it was clear-cut, it fits what I want and it's an opportunity to achieve something." Former Chelsea youth product Saville departed Millwall after making over 200 appearances for the club across two spells at The Den, with spells at Brentford, Wolves and Middlesbrough in between, the latter of which he also hit a century of caps for. The Camberley-born midfielder has also made 57 appearances for Northern Ireland, whom he qualifies for through his Enniskillen-born grandmother, and set up Isaac Price's winning goal against Iceland on Tuesday. "We're really pleased to sign George, not just because of the experience and quality he'll bring, but because he's really enthused about the challenge that lies ahead,' praised Luton boss Matt Bloomfield. "He's chosen us over some Championship offers which shows his belief in our club, and that's the type of character we're after. "We're hoping George can help us with his leadership and ability to knit the game together in the middle of the pitch. He's going to be an important component of the squad."
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Snooker star Jackson Page begins very different job after landing huge 147 bonus
Jackson Page is not only a history-making snooker player, but now the proud owner of a trading card and collectibles shop. The 23-year-old continued to make good progress in his snooker career, enjoying the best season of his young career so far last time round. A run to his first ranking final at the Championship League and two more ranking quarter-finals were encouraging, but the highlight came in World Championship qualifying. The Welshman became the first player in the history of the game to make two 147s in the same match, doing so in a 10-2 demolition of Allan Taylor. The amazing achievement saw Page won a huge £147,000 bonus for making two maximums over the four biggest events on the calendar – he just only needed one game to do it. Some of those winnings have gone on a new venture, very different from potting balls, in Brynmawr, south Wales. AJ's Trading Cards opened at the end of last month and Action Jackson is loving taking his hobby to the next level. 'Everyone on tour knows that I am really into collectible stuff like Pokemon Cards and other things,' he told WST. 'I just decided it would be great to open up a shop as a bit of a thing on the side. 'It is a bit of an interest for me and something I like to do when I'm not focussing on snooker. It has been a brilliant experience seeing it open up, I obviously can't work in there as I'm a snooker player but I've got someone to work there and it is a good hobby to have.' 'We've got all sorts of things in there like Lego sets and Plushies, as well as the trading cards. It has been fun setting it up. We've got a few cards in there worth over £2,000. The most valuable and rare Pokemon Card we have is called a Moonbreon. 'When I was a kid I used to collect cards and I got back into it a couple of years ago. Now I'm in a position where I'm able to open a shop so I'll see how it goes. It will be exciting to see how it pans out. Mark Williams popped over the other day to see the shop, his boy is into it all as well. So it was nice to have him come along.' New world champion Zhao Xintong shares an interest with Page, as he showed by sporting the Pokemon Chimchar on his bowtie at the Crucible. The shop's owner hopes to see the world champ come and spend some of his £500,000 winnings. 'He's just won a fortune, so he could be a good customer,' he said. 'Despite being there for the final, I had no idea he had that on his bowtie. 'We have a Chimchar Funko Pop in the shop actually. I could maybe sell that to him!' Page made the two 147s in the penultimate round of World Championship qualifying but then was beaten by Joe O'Connor at the last hurdle before the Crucible. More Trending He said after that loss that he would swap the history and huge bonus for a trip to the Crucible, but is a bit more philosophical on the situation now. 'It was hard to be too disappointed coming off the back of what I'd just done and what I'd won,' he said. 'It would have been a great buzz to go to the Crucible, but Joe is a great player and he played well. 'There's swings and roundabouts, wins and losses. At the end of the day I need to come back next year and try to be in a position where I don't have to qualify.' Page gets the new season underway with a Wuhan Open qualifier against Ross Muir on June 24 and is back in action the following day in British Open qualifying against Elliot Slessor. MORE: Zak Surety on wild Crucible debut: They can't ever move from there – it's mad MORE: Wuhan Open and British Open draws made as Ronnie O'Sullivan enters both MORE: Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty disagree on most underrated snooker player ever
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
The rugby legend Wales didn't want because of the colour of his skin
The rugby legend Wales didn't want because of the colour of his skin Billy Boston has become the first ever rugby league player to receive a knighthood, as part of the King's 2025 Birthday Honours Rugby league legend Billy Boston during the unveiling of a statue in Cardiff Bay to celebrate the achievements of players from Cardiff Bay (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) He grew up in Cardiff's Tiger Bay, is regarded as one of the best rugby league players of all time and now Billy Boston has become the first to receive a knighthood. But the truth is that Billy Boston's incredible skills were not wanted by Wales or his home city thanks to prejudice. Billy, who began playing rugby union as a school boy and represented Neath and Pontypridd in the early 1950s, said he had wanted to play for Wales "with all his heart". That dream was not to be but he went on to find recognition across the border, switching from union to become one of rugby league's all-time legends. Billy was sixth of 11 children born to merchant seaman John Boston, from Sierra Leone, and Nellie who came from Cardiff's Irish community. Born in Butetown in 1934 he represented the Cardiff Schoolboys team in the late 1940s and began his rugby union career with Cardiff International Athletics Club. When racism left his talents overlooked by the union in Wales, Billy became one of the so-called 'codebreakers' - the black and mixed race players who switched from rugby union to league to get on in the sport they loved. More than 150 Welsh rugby union internationals moved to the North of England from 1895 onwards to play rugby league professionally. Billy Boston in 1959 (Image: PA ) Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Article continues below Billy, who played wing and centre, was doing National Service in North Yorkshire when he was scouted by a number of rugby league clubs and signed for Wigan in 1953. The story goes that Wigan's chairman Joe Taylor and vice-chairman Billy Gore went to the young player's home in Cardiff and offered him £1,000 cash on the table to sign for them. His mother rejected this offer on his behalf, getting them to triple the sum, partly owing to her son's reluctance to sign. It was a good move. Billy went on to score 478 tries in 487 appearances over 15 years with Wigan and his achievements were immortalised in a 10ft bronze statue in the town. During his two-decade career in England the Welshman scored a total of 571 tries, making him the second-highest try scorer in rugby league history and a feared and revered player. He represented Great Britain in 31 Test matches, was part of two Lions tours, scored 24 tries for the national side and was part of the team that won the 1960 Rugby League World Cup. Finishing his career at Blackpool Borough, Billy retired victorious in 1970. Billy spoke of his one regret of not playing for Wales (Image: ITV Wales ) There may have been statues for him at Wigan and Wembley and a gold plate career record, but there was always lingering sadness that Billy had not been recognised at home. The sporting hero repeatedly said he wanted to play for Cardiff RFC and reportedly shed tears after signing for Wigan knowing that it ended his ambitions to play rugby union for Cardiff and Wales. League players at the time were barred from playing union. Billly's dreams of playing for Wales may have been dashed but the sportsman knew he had no choice: 'I was disappointed that Cardiff never showed any interest in me and I think that was because of my colour,' he said. "They certainly wouldn't let me into their clubhouse after I turned professional. I don't think I would ever have been picked for Wales at union.' Asked how it felt, he told one author: 'I would have given all the league glory away just to once pull on the red shirt of Wales.' But he cannot have regretted the heights of his league career. Those who saw Billy on the field describe his magnetic presence and the talent Wales robbed itself of. 'Billy Boston is the most perfect rugby player I have ever seen,' said England's Joe Egan, while late commentator Eddie Waring judged: 'He had that magnetic quality that had the crowd on its toes whenever he received the ball. He was a crowd- puller without any doubt.' The star player got the opportunity and recognition he deserved across the border and was belatedly recognised at home too. Billy is an original inductee of the British Rugby League Hall of Fame, Welsh Sports Hall of Fame and Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame. He was appointed an MBE in the 1996 Birthday Honours "for services to the community in Wigan, Greater Manchester." The Billy Boston Stand at Wigan's Central Park was named in his honour in 2020 and in 2023 Billy, along with fellow rugby league players Gus Risman and Clive Sullivan, were honoured in a statue in Cardiff Bay. To cap this, Billy today becomes the first ever rugby league player to receive a knighthood, as part of the King's 2025 Birthday Honours. It was reported that Billy, who is living with dementia, would have the knighthood conferred before the official announcement of the honour, due to uncertainty over his health. The honour came after a campaign by his MP Lisa Nandy and councillors for him to be recognised, as well as a national campaign calling for the first knighthood for the sport. Article continues below Sir Billy's wife Joan Boston said: 'Billy's family are so proud of him and so excited that everything he's done for the sport and for our community is being recognised. He is a wonderful person who has always loved rugby league and all of the people involved in the sport."
