Michael van Gerwen slams ‘stupidity’ of Peter Wright claim, calls Luke Littler ‘biggest disappointment’ of World Darts | News darts
Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen has slammed Peter Wright’s World Darts Championshp claims as “nonsense” and labeled tournament favorite Luke Littler’s form “disappointing”.
Van Gerwen booked a quarter-final date with Callan Rydz thanks to a 4-2 win over Jeffrey de Graaf on Monday night, and afterwards the world No.3 took aim at Wright’s claim that Rydz should be favourite.
Rydz is unseeded but has posted the two highest averages of the tournament so far – 107.06 against Romeo Grbavac in his opening match and 105.31 in a strong 4-0 win over 11th seed Dimitri Van den Bergh in the third round.
“I want to play like Callan Rydz,” Wright said after knocking out defending champion Luke Humphries in the fourth round. “He should be the favorite of this tournament. He is playing superb darts and may it continue.”
This came after Wright already hit the headlines when he said he was “ready to upset Luke Littler” and “here to upset Luke Humphries”, who called out his “mind games” before losing to two-time champions Alexandra Palace.
“He talks so much rubbish every year at the World Cup,” Van Gerwen said of Wright’s latest comments.
“He’s always allowed to talk nonsense. No one takes him seriously even on tour because he’s not allowed to have an opinion at home.”
When asked about his opponent in the round of 16, Rydz, Van Gerwen said Sky Sports: “I think he has the highest tournament average so far, so you can’t underestimate him.
“I think he’s playing fantastic darts, but we’ll see. It will be from the first to five sets, it’s a completely different game.”
He added: “When I play well, I don’t panic. When I keep my focus, when I keep believing in my own abilities, anything is possible. I’m not here for fun, I’m here to win the tournament, and we all know that.”
For Van Gerwen to win, he may have to face tournament favorite and last year’s runner-up Littler in the final.
The 17-year-old twice averaged above 100 in his three matches to reach the quarter-finals, including an impressive 103.13 in a fourth-round win over Ryan Joyce, despite being forced to a deciding final set.
His 4-3 victory means Littler has dropped five sets so far in the tournament, just one short of his entire run to the finals last year.
“I think the biggest disappointment so far is Luke Littler,” added Van Gerwen at his press conference, ahead of Littler’s win over Joyce. “A lot of people expect a lot from him, that’s why he’s not 100 percent.”
Asked about Van Gerwen’s comments after confirming his place in the last eight, where he will meet 12th seed Nathan Aspinall, Littler said: “That might answer a few questions but I’m just happy with the result, happy with the scoring power. “
What’s next at the World Cup?
Action at the World Darts Championship continues on New Year’s Day, with each of Wednesday’s two sessions featuring two quarter-finals.
In the afternoon session, Chris Dobey faces 2021 champion Gerwyn Price, before three-time winner Michael van Gerwen takes on Callan Rydz.
What promises to be a spectacular evening session will kick off with two-time champion Peter Wright taking on Stephen Bunting, before Luke Littler takes on Nathan Aspinall.
Who Will Win The Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live until January 3 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel. Stream darts and more top sports with NOW.
