Michael van Gerwen is a 'PR's dream' says Sky Sports' darts analyst Wayne Mardle
Reigning Premier League champion thumps Peter Wright, ending the contest with a 105.21 average
Friday 10 February 2017 13:28, UK
Michael van Gerwen "is a born entertainer" who is meticulous in his preparation after gaining revenge over Peter Wright in the Premier League on Thursday night, according to Wayne Mardle.
The Dutchman bounced back to winning ways with a 170 finish as he hammered Peter Wright 7-3 at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena, coming agonisingly close to only the eighth whitewash in Premier League history.
Van Gerwen, who came close to his third whitewash in the tournament's history, endured a disappointing weekend in the three UK Open Qualifiers in Wigan, and he told Sky Sports: "Of course I had a bad week and everyone said 'what's wrong with him, is he sick?' But no, but I'm also human and things like that can happen to me."
Victory helped MVG extend his unbeaten run on TV, which stretches back to September when he was beaten by Phil Taylor in the inaugural Champions League of Darts and Mardle was impressed with his thirst for more success.
Michael is born entertainer, he's a born darts players, he's got it and he wants to carry on winning.
"I think he's a PR's dream, he wants to play well and we know that this sport is based around fans whether their sitting around watching or they're here," said former four-time participant, Mardle.
"Without the fans, the sport doesn't exist, it dies and fades away. Michael is born entertainer, he's a born darts players, he's got it and he wants to carry on winning.
"After that first leg which was really iffy from him especially, Peter Wright let him off the hook and should have, well, could have won 7-0, but Wright got three legs on the board.
"Like Michael said, to win 7-0 would have probably been unfair."
Mardle fully expected the 27-year-old to return stronger from his weekend disappointment and wasn't surprised to see him gain revenge over Wright, who ended his 16-match losing run against him during the Qualifiers.
"He knows everything about the game, he knows every aspect of everyone else's game as well," he said. "He knows their records, he knows what their traits are. He's a clued up individual about what he's very good at and that's darts. Nothing is by chance, he's meticulous in his preparation."
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