Michael van Gerwen was dumped out of the World Grand Prix by Daryl Gurney in shocking fashion, with the defeat having a big impact on his PDC Order of Merit potMichael van Gerwen is set to be £120,000 poorer in the PDC’s Order of Merit following a crushing defeat at the World Grand Prix this week.
The Dutchman, currently ranked third globally based on two-year tournament earnings, was shockingly knocked out of the competition 2-0 by Daryl Gurney, despite being a favourite to win. The six-time champion failed to make an impact against Gurney, not winning a single leg of the game.
It’s the first time in 13 years he has failed to do so in a televised ranking match. Van Gerwen will lose £120,000 in the Order of Merit due to his early exit – as he won the competition two years ago with a 5-3 victory over Nathan Aspinall. MVG currently sits third in the rankings with a total cash sum of £902,000, while Michael Smith is in second (£1,061,750) and Luke Humphries tops the list (£1,674,250).
While the loss doesn’t immediately affect his ranking, it could be a significant setback if he fails to regain momentum. In other matches, Smith was defeated 2-1 by Gary Anderson in the opening round, while Rob Cross ousted Luke Littler by the same score.
World No. 1 Humphries will have high expectations with many top-class competitors already eliminated from the tournament, having beaten Stephen Bunting 2-1 in his opening game on Monday, reports the Express. He faces Ricardo Pietreczko in the second round this evening.
Van Gerwen’s recent performances have been a mixed bag, with the Dutchman clinching victories at the European Tour 11 and Players Championship 21 before illness forced him to hand a walkover to Jules van Dongen at Players Championship 22.
Van Gerwen has also been battling fitness issues, including dental surgery that left him in discomfort during his World Series win against Jonny Clayton. He shared his ordeal with De Telegraaf, saying: “Anyone who’s ever had root canal treatment and knows what that feels like, I can tell this is a little boy compared to what I went through.
That really didn’t feel good, but it has to be to keep it together. My lower jaw is searching and wants to go back to its old position. I had a severe underbite. A steak or a tough baguette, that’s still a no go.”
Van Gerwen is preparing for another surgery next year to address a foot issue that causes pain while wearing shoes. Despite these setbacks, with the World Darts Championship and the Players Championships Finals on the horizon before the end of 2024, he remains poised for a chance to redeem himself
