Danny Noppert claimed post-match: "Every time I was on a double, he was stamping on the floor."; Van Gerwen says: "I have played this sport a long time and have never and will never use tactics on the oche."
Wednesday 6 October 2021 13:33, UK
Michael van Gerwen has denied claims by opponent Danny Noppert that he was 'stamping' to put Noppert off during their World Grand Prix match.
Following their first-round match on Monday, in which Noppert prevailed 2-0, he claimed five-time Grand Prix winner Van Gerwen was employing the tactic every time he was aiming for a double to close out a leg.
Noppert told Sky Sports: "After the first set, we had some troubles behind the stage because I thought he was stamping on the floor if I was on a double.
"No bad words for him, but yeah."
Noppert also told Boyle Sports: "Every time I was on a double, he was stamping on the floor for myself.
"After the first set we met each other backstage and we had some words with each other.
"That was my feeling about it but I am happy with the win."
However, Van Gerwen responded on Twitter, saying: "Angry and disappointed that I didn't win tonight. The fans were phenomenal in Leicester tonight.
"I have played this sport a long time and have never and will never use tactics on the oche. Thank you for all the support."
The world No 3 also spoke to Dutch TV station RTL7 following his defeat, and admitted he was left upset by the allegations of gamesmanship.
"He said to me that I was a cheater, that I was stomping. I was a bit upset about that," Van Gerwen added.
"Of course that shouldn't happen, I have to blame myself for that. But of course you are affected by something like that. If someone is not like that, it's me who wins. I certainly resent that."
After sealing the first set, Noppert was relentless in the second, taking out an incredible 103 to set up a deciding leg, after MVG had missed the bull for a sensational nine-darter earlier in the set.
There was no handshake between the pair as Noppert capped off a superb victory with a two-dart 90 checkout, to set up a second-round clash with another Dutchman, Vincent van der Voort.
Van Gerwen, along with Peter Wright and Gary Anderson, all crashed out on a dramatic night at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
They suffered stunning exits at the hands of Noppert, Rob Cross and Ian White respectively, leaving world No 1 Gerwyn Price as the overwhelming favourite to retain his title.
After the match, Sky Sports analyst and former player Wayne Mardle said: "Only the players know what went on. Only Michael knows if he was stamping.
"Maybe he did. If he did, then he has gone to depths that he hasn't done before, but I don't know.
"Danny obviously felt there was something.
"What we did see was that Michael was kind of 'just there' and Danny took exception to - I actually mentioned loose floorboarding, it really does happen a lot on these stages.
"That's not making excuses for Michael van Gerwen, that's just experience of being up here a lot. But there's clearly no love lost and there's something gone on."
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