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Revision as of 16:27, 7 January 2007 by 82.38.32.130 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Darts player| Michael van Gerwen | |
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Nickname | Mighty Mike |
| Born | |
| Home town | Boxtel |
| Darts information | |
| Darts | 25.3g Michael van Gerwen darts |
| Organisation (see split in darts) | |
| BDO | since 2003 |
| Current world ranking | WDF Ranking 2 |
| WDF major events – best performances | |
| World Ch'ship | Debut 2007 |
| World Masters | Winner 2006 |
| World Trophy | SF 2006 |
| Int. Darts League | QF 2006 |
| Other tournament wins | |
| Tournament | Years |
| Norway Open Northern Ireland Open | 2005 2005 |
| Other achievements | |
| Youngest ever winner, Winmau World Masters (2006) Youngest ever player at BDO World Championship (2007) | |
| Updated on November 15, 2006. | |
Michael van Gerwen (born April 25, 1989 in Boxtel, Netherlands) is a Dutch professional darts player. He is nicknamed Mighty Mike. In January 2007, van Gerwen will become the youngest player ever to compete at the BDO version of the World Professional Darts Championship at the age of 17 years, 289 days. He is seeded third and will play Gary Robson in the first round. Van Gerwen is in the same quarter of the draw as former BDO World Champions John Walton and Andy Fordham.
He has already picked up several Open titles and risen up the BDO & WDF World Rankings having climbed as high as third, even before he has reached his 18th birthday.
Van Gerwen reached the semi-finals of the Bavaria World Darts Trophy in 2006. Despite losing to Martin Adams, the Dutch youngster came within one dart of the perfect nine dart finish, just missing double twelve. He did manage the highest possible checkout of 170 during the tournament.
He managed to eclipse that performance at the 2006 Winmau World Masters by becoming the youngest ever champion. Having trailed 1-4 and 2-5 to Martin Adams he came back to win the title and take Eric Bristow's record as the youngest ever winner at the age of 17 years 174 days.
His early career success led to inevitable speculation that he may join the other professional circuit of darts, the Professional Darts Corporation. However, during the 2006 World Darts Trophy, van Gerwen held a press conference to make it clear that he wanted to stay with the BDO/WDF. He also finished top of the DDF (Dutch Darts Federation) Rankings - which would have secured him a place at the PDC World Championship if he chose to accept. He had already committed to playing at Lakeside, so the place went to Rico Vonck who finished second in the rankings.
Bookmakers Paddypower (as of 4 January 2007) are giving odds of 2-1 that Gerwen will win the BDO World Championship for 2007, making him the clear favourite. He is also 12-1 third favourite to win the PDC World Championship for 2008, behind Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld, despite making clear his intentions to stay with the BDO.