Three-time world darts champion Michael van Gerwen survived a major scare against Japan’s Mitsuhiko Tatsunami in his first-round match at the World Darts Championship.
Mighty Mike, who last won the title in 2019, has struggled on and off the oche this year as he underwent a split from his wife and took a break from darts to adapt to his new way of life.
He was facing Tatsunami in the first round on Thursday night on what was day of upsets, and looked like he was on his way to suffering one of his own when he lost the first set.
Though many thought he would soon catch up, the seven-time Premier League winner also found himself 2-0 down in the second set, before clawing his way back to 2-2.
Tatsunami, in the deciding leg, had chances to take out both 116 and 136 to win the set overall, but fell short and van Gerwen slowly started to hit his doubles to get back into his groove.
He tried not to look back after winning the second set. He swept the third set, winning 3-0, but he had to survive set darts in the final set before eventually winning 3-2.
Michael van Gerwen (pictured) survived a scare against World No143 Mitsuhiko Tatsunami in the first round of the World Darts Championship
Tatsunami won the first set and had darts to win the second but ultimately fell short
The crowd were firmly behind the Japanese player, who wore goggle-like glasses and his darts case around his neck as he threw. They had already seen his countryman Motomu Sakai, who was in the crowd for the game, beat Thibault Tricole earlier on in the day, and 30-year-old vet David Munyua topple 18th seed Mike De Decker.
But that wasn’t to be followed up on this occasion, and van Gerwen can safely prepare for his second round game. Tatsunami, meanwhile, pocketed £15,000 for qualifying, which came via the Steel Darts Japan finals.
Van Gerwen’s major dip in form can at least partly be explained by his separation from his wife, Daphne, after more than 10 years of marriage. The couple have two children together – Mike and Zoe – and the Dutchman spent a period of time away from the oche earlier this year as he attempted to adapt to his new life.
But, as is the harsh reality, top level sport waits for no one. The World Championship is here – a tournament van Gerwen knows all too well – and it is now time to do or die.
He told Daily Mail Sport before the tournament: ‘I’m feeling alright. We know the draw, we know the day we are going to play, and we can prepare. I am looking forward to it.
‘It is of course different this year. I have had a tough year and I have to adjust myself. But that is part of how life sometimes goes.
‘To adjust is not that easy. You have to balance your life again, and you go through a new phase, but that’s the way it is.’
