Michael van Gerwen has responded to an Ally Pally challenge from snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan. The world No.1 was asked his view on which feat in sport is more difficult to achieve: a nine-darter or a 147. "I don't know," said O'Sullivan, who was eliminated from the Scottish Open in Edinburgh in the third round following defeat to Gary Wilson.
"I'm terrible at darts so I'm flabbergasted at how they keep peppering treble 20s and doubles and all that. Mind you, I did have a darts lesson the other day from someone at my local pub and he got me knowing when to release a dart and they were going near the treble. I thought 'you know what - I'm getting on the darts tour mate!' Forget the snooker tour, I'm coming for you Van Gerwen!"
The world number three took to Twitter to respond to the snooker legend’s bold challenge at one of the sport’s iconic venues. "I’m up for this, me v @ronnieo147 at the Palace? @OfficialPDC any takers?”, he said. Fans were quick to respond and one said: “Bring it on, love to see it. And a counter match in the other discipline.”
“Love to see this, Make it happen @OfficialPDC,” a follower posted, while another wrote: “We all really wanna see this, please make it happen.” The 33-year-old enters the tournament in a rich vein of form, having won the Players Championship Finals title for the seventh time in 10 years last weekend, beating Rob Cross.
That marked his fifth televised title of the year and the world No.3 has his sights set on becoming the champion of the world once again, but knows it will be difficult. "Yeah [I'm the favourite], I would go into the tournament as favourite anyway even without the wins,” van Gerwen said. "People always want to beat me, I know that. I have a big target on my back, but I can handle it.
“I've been under pressure so many times, and most of the time, I've survived. As long as you keep working, keep digging, then everything works out." Van Gerwen's 2022 campaign ended due to contracting coronavirus and was whitewashed by Dave Chisnall the previous year. But a rejuvenated and motivated Dutchman says things are different this time.
"Of course I want to win but it's still going to be a hard tournament, everyone knows that. It means a lot. It's what I work for, it's what I want to win," he said. "Last year, everyone knows, was a disaster for me. The year before as well with Coronavirus, without crowds is not the best thing.
"But we're back to normal now, and also my form has started to get back to normal now, so I hope that's a great combination to make sure I'm going to do well again.
"It's the biggest tournament of the year, and it's the most supported one, and with the form I'm going in with, It's going to be tough for people to beat me." Van Gerwen will face either Niels Zonneveld or Lewy Williams in his opening match.
