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Michael van Gerwen applauded by opponent after ending 212-day drought
Michael van Gerwen’s seven-month wait for a nine-darter is finally over. The three-time world champion pulled off the epic feat in the fifth leg of his third round victory over Ryan Searle at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich. It had been 212 days since Van Gerwen’s last nine-darterGetty Van Gerwen won the opening two legs before Searle pulled one back, although it only served to to fuel the fire inside the Dutchman. He won the next leg to take a 3-1 lead, but Van Gerwen was far from done when it came to reminding the world of his brilliance. He opened his nine-dart leg with two maximums and rounded it out with the 141 checkout as he went the treble 20, treble 19 and double 12 route. Immediately upon hitting double 12, Van Gerwen turned to the crowd with his arms outstretched before he blew a kiss in their direction. Searle could only applaud and offered a congratulatory fist-bump to his rival as Van Gerwen flexed in front of the crowd. It marked Van Gerwen’s first nine-darter in 2025, with his last coming against Martin Lukeman on September 21 last year. Prior to that, Van Gerwen’s last-nine darter took place during a clash against Luke Humphries on November 26 in 2023. Unfortunately for Searle, his rival never let up as Van Gerwen secured a dominant 6-1 win. The Dutchman rattled off a 104.82 average while Searle averaged 90.13 and managed just a solitary maximum. Van Gerwen was also clinical on the checkouts as he nailed six of his seven attempts. PDCVan Gerwen gestured to the crowd after his epic nine-darter…[/caption] PDCAnd Searle had to applaud his rival’s efforts[/caption] The 35-year-old’s moment of magic in Munich arrived just days after his disappointing display on night 11 of the Premier League in Rotterdam. Van Gerwen was bundled out in the quarter-finals by Stephen Bunting in a 6-5 defeat. It marked the ninth time out of ten Premier League nights this year he had failed to reach the final, with the sole exception being a runners-up finish on night seven in Cardiff. Despite an early exit at his home event coupled with a decline in form over recent years, Van Gerwen confirmed in an interview with HLN.be he had no plans on stepping away from the oche any time soon. “I’m committed to going full throttle for at least another ten years,” Van Gerwen said. “I’m still young, and I know there’s plenty left in the tank. Van Gerwen intends to compete for at least another decadePA “I’m better than most players on the Tour – I just need to prove it again, more often.” No. 2 seed Van Gerwen will face Ryan Joyce in the quarter-finals after the Newcastle native beat Niels Zonneveld 6-4 in the third round.
Michael van Gerwen’s seven-month wait for a nine-darter is finally over.
The three-time world champion pulled off the epic feat in the fifth leg of his third round victory over Ryan Searle at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich.
Van Gerwen won the opening two legs before Searle pulled one back, although it only served to to fuel the fire inside the Dutchman.
He won the next leg to take a 3-1 lead, but Van Gerwen was far from done when it came to reminding the world of his brilliance.
He opened his nine-dart leg with two maximums and rounded it out with the 141 checkout as he went the treble 20, treble 19 and double 12 route.
Immediately upon hitting double 12, Van Gerwen turned to the crowd with his arms outstretched before he blew a kiss in their direction.
Searle could only applaud and offered a congratulatory fist-bump to his rival as Van Gerwen flexed in front of the crowd.
It marked Van Gerwen’s first nine-darter in 2025, with his last coming against Martin Lukeman on September 21 last year.
Prior to that, Van Gerwen’s last-nine darter took place during a clash against Luke Humphries on November 26 in 2023.
Unfortunately for Searle, his rival never let up as Van Gerwen secured a dominant 6-1 win.
The Dutchman rattled off a 104.82 average while Searle averaged 90.13 and managed just a solitary maximum.
Van Gerwen was also clinical on the checkouts as he nailed six of his seven attempts.
The 35-year-old’s moment of magic in Munich arrived just days after his disappointing display on night 11 of the Premier League in Rotterdam.
Van Gerwen was bundled out in the quarter-finals by Stephen Bunting in a 6-5 defeat.
It marked the ninth time out of ten Premier League nights this year he had failed to reach the final, with the sole exception being a runners-up finish on night seven in Cardiff.
Despite an early exit at his home event coupled with a decline in form over recent years, Van Gerwen confirmed in an interview with HLN.be he had no plans on stepping away from the oche any time soon.
“I’m committed to going full throttle for at least another ten years,” Van Gerwen said.
“I’m still young, and I know there’s plenty left in the tank.
“I’m better than most players on the Tour – I just need to prove it again, more often.”
No. 2 seed Van Gerwen will face Ryan Joyce in the quarter-finals after the Newcastle native beat Niels Zonneveld 6-4 in the third round.
