‘I was stunned' – Darts icon lifts lid on Michael van Gerwen backstage bust-up with Dutch ace throwing rival over table
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DARTS star Kim Huybrechts has lifted the lid on a crazy backstage bust-up that saw Michael van Gerwen throw a rival over a table.
The Belgian recalled the story when appearing on the Darts Draait Door podcast.
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Kim Huybrechts has revealed how Michael van Gerwen threw a rival over a table
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The incident happened while warming up ahead of a tournament, as Van Gerwen got annoyed with an opponent
Credit: Alamy
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Rowby-John Rodriguez is said to have annoyed the Dutchman by throwing slowly
Credit: Rex
Huybrechts explained how he and the three-time World Champion had been warming up ahead of a tournament with Rowby-John Rodriguez.
The 39-year-old claimed: "It all started when Michael and I were practising together with the Austrian player Rowby-John Rodriguez before a tournament.
"Rowby was winding Michael up by throwing very slowly. Michael was due to play his match soon, so he asked him to speed up.
"But instead, Rowby provoked him even more by throwing even slower and chatting to me in between.
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"Michael probably should've just gone to another board to continue his warm-up, but that was never going to happen.
"He's a stubborn guy. It escalated into a confrontation and they ended up nose to nose. Michael used a bit too much brute force and flung Rowby straight over the table."
The incident itself happened in front of several players, while Mighty Mike had ended up throwing Little John, 31, over a table with drinks belonging to around ten players.
One of these included Van Gerwen's close friend Vincent van der Voort, who was more concerned about his spilt drink than the fight.
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Huybrechts continued: "The first thing Vincent said was to ask who was going to pay for his drink.
"Officials stepped in, and Vincent even tapped one on the shoulder to ask how they were going to sort out his drink.
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"Rowby-John was lying somewhere in the middle of it all and everyone had to hold Michael back.
"I was standing there, stunned."
Van Gerwen finished runner-up at the World Championships at the start of this year but later won the German Darts Grand Prix.
Huybrechts himself is ranked 48th in the world, with Rodriguez ranked 151st and Van Gerwen third.
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