Michael van Gerwen has secured his place in the second round of the World Matchplay after defeating fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld. However, the match featured a rare and unexpected moment—one that is seldom seen at the professional level in the PDC, as shown in the footage below.
BARNEY NICKS ONE!
After going seven darts into the nine, Michael van Gerwen makes a mess of the leg and Raymond van Barneveld takes advantage!
📺 https://t.co/ZboV9dF4Ji#MatchplayDarts | R1 pic.twitter.com/0KtzMm6Ofb
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 21, 2025
For brief stretches, Van Gerwen showed flashes of his vintage self—the version of Michael who once seemed incapable of missing a treble. His trademark confidence appeared to resurface, reminiscent of the days when he stepped on stage dressed entirely in green and dominated the circuit.
The hours he’s currently investing at the practice board seem to be slowly paying off. Yet, even that dedication couldn’t prevent a painfully awkward moment during the match—an error that felt both humiliating and decisive, especially by professional standards.
It served as a reminder of the brutal nature of darts—a sport that can sometimes look deceptively easy on television, where the treble 20 seems larger than life compared to the dartboard on your living room wall. But this leg proved that even the best can stumble.
Illegal shot by Michael van Gerwen spotted on stage
During the game with Josh Rock there was this moment which was illegal by Michael van Gerwen but he got away with it.
Despite the mishap, Van Gerwen did enough to seal the victory and advance. For Van Barneveld, it may well have been his final appearance on this iconic stage—a symbolic end to a legendary career.
Van Gerwen’s journey in Blackpool continues, as he now prepares to face Josh Rock in the next round. And he’ll need to be at his very best. The Northern Irishman is in scintillating form, having defeated Ross Smith with a 104+ average on the same night, while Van Gerwen posted a more modest average just over 91.
Their clash will be the final match of Wednesday night’s session—an eagerly anticipated showdown. Rock also enters the tie brimming with confidence, fresh off his World Cup of Darts victory alongside Daryl Gurney. With Gurney already eliminated from the tournament, all eyes—and all pressure—will now be on Rock to carry the hopes of Northern Ireland forward.