Michael van Gerwen's European Darts Open campaign came to an end on Sunday afternoon, as he was defeated by Damon Heta in a thrilling match. The Australian number one produced a sterling effort to book his spot in the evening's action, averaging over 100 and hitting 60% of his doubles.
What happened?
The match was a closely contested affair, with both players producing high-quality darts. However, it was Heta who ultimately came out on top, winning 6-4. Van Gerwen's struggles with his finishing proved to be the deciding factor, as he missed nine of his thirteen attempts.
Why it matters for Michael van Gerwen
This defeat will be a disappointment for Van Gerwen, who was looking to make a deep run in the European Darts Open. However, he can take heart from the fact that he was beaten by a player in top form. Heta's performance was one of the best of the tournament so far, and Van Gerwen will know that he was beaten by a better player on the day.
What comes next?
Van Gerwen will now turn his attention to his next tournament, where he will be looking to bounce back from this defeat. He will be hoping to regain his form and make a deep run in the competition.
Luke Woodhouse produced one of the comebacks of the European Tour season, coming back from 4-0 down to defeat Jonny Clayton in a deciding leg. Dirk van Duijvenbode also impressed, beating Wessel Nijman in a thriller that saw six maximums and breaks of throw aplenty.
Sebastian Bialecki made a little bit of personal history, getting past Kevin Doets with a 102 average to reach his first ever European Tour quarter-final. James Wade was professional in seeing off Host Nation Qualifier Jan Schmidt, while Nathan Aspinall continued his title defence with a controlled display against Ross Smith.
The evening's action promises to be just as exciting, with Heta, Woodhouse, Van Duijvenbode, Bialecki, Wade, and Aspinall all looking to make a deep run in the tournament.