Michael van Gerwen made an impressive start to his European Darts Open campaign in Leverkusen, Germany, cruising to a comfortable 6-2 victory over Joe Cullen. However, the highlight of the day came after the match, when his eight-year-old daughter Zoë stole the spotlight.
Holding a “180” sign, Zoë ran onto the stage to celebrate with her father, greeting the three-time world champion with a heartfelt hug and a high five. The touching family moment quickly captured the attention of darts fans, with Van Gerwen later sharing photos on social media that drew plenty of warm reactions.
Van Gerwen’s run in the tournament came to an end in the third round, where he was defeated 6-4 by Australia’s Damon Heta. Despite the early exit, the emotional post-match celebration with his daughter remained one of the most memorable moments of the weekend.
The European Darts Open title was eventually claimed by Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski, who defeated Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena 8-6 in a high-quality final. The victory marked Ratajski’s first European Tour title, while Wattimena enjoyed an impressive run to the championship match.
View this post on Instagram