Freddie Flintoff captured frenzied excitement of Michael van Gerwen's nine-darter, says Rod Studd
Tuesday 19 April 2016 19:54, UK
After Adrian Lewis hit a Premier League nine-darter, Rod Studd recalls how Freddie Flintoff was caught up in the mayhem of Michael van Gerwen's perfect leg.
Lewis completed the first nine-darter of the competition in last week's win against James Wade and the eight remaining players return to action this Thursday night, live on Sky Sports.
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World No 1 Van Gerwen has a number of nine-darters to his name, but Studd has picked out a perfect leg at the World Matchplay, with special guest Freddie Flintoff supplying his own unique commentary.
Michael Van Gerwen v Steve Beaton, 2012 World Matchplay last 16
You have to remember that Michael van Gerwen was very much in the doldrums at this stage of his career. Before he became the new Van Gerwen, he was still floundering a bit, struggling. This nine-darter served as a catalyst for what came afterwards. He went on to win the World Grand Prix and then all those titles and remarkable feats would follow.
The great Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff had joined the irrepressible John Gwynne and Rod Harrington in the commentary box. Freddie has always been a fan of the arrows and obviously fancied a trip to Blackpool.
I thought Freddie was going to spontaneously combust as double 12 went in.
When asked if he fancied a spell as a guest commentator, Freddie jumped at the chance and became progressively energetic as Van Gerwen produced his 40 seconds of magic. I thought Freddie was going to spontaneously combust as double 12 went in.
The commentary added to the entertainment with Freddie saying: "It's a nine-dart finish, it's the first I have seen in the commentary box. John Gwynne is on his feet and Rod Harrington has wet himself!"
That thankfully did not happen, but it was a magical moment, and kick-started Michael's rise to greatness.
John Part v Mark Webster, 2011 World Matchplay first round.
Party's nine-darter is his only one on television and he still treasures it. I'm sure John won't mind me saying, but he was playing like an absolute drain at the time, trailing 7-3 and averaging in the high 80s.
Sid Waddell quite rightly kept saying 'out of nowhere' as Part had not shown any inkling that he was going to do this. 'Tell me I'm not having seaside dreams' is the superb line that followed the last dart.
And Manley's near miss...
I've got to also mention Peter Manley, who so nearly produced the greatest nine-darter ever in the 1999 World Matchplay final against Rod Harrington. No-one had hit a live televised nine-darter at that time. The Holy Grail was still being sought for and would not appear until Phil Taylor found it in 2002.
'One-dart' Manley, that masterful showman, went for treble 18 and blocked the bed, so with 90 remaining he hit double 20 only to wire the bull. The agony as he sinks to his knees was a sight to behold. And Rod Harrington almost shoved Peter out of the way in his urgency to return to the oche!
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