This was darts at its most compelling and brilliant, and from Van Gerwen came a display of genius under pressure
I have a few favourite games, probably around 20. Most are memorable for reasons of drama or partisan euphoria, but there are a couple that provided a different kind of euphoria: watching sheer mind-blowing greatness. In that particular category, Michael van Gerwen’s 6-2 win over Raymond van Barneveld in the 2017 PDC World Championship semi-final falls slap bang in the middle of the bullseye.
Plenty of you will sneer, this being darts, and I hope you’ll accept my sincere pity for your unfortunate ignorance. To those who get darts, it is the most psychologically fascinating sport of all. None of the others require such surgical precision under constant, extreme pressure. It’s like a never-ending penalty shootout, only the drama is authentic rather than contrived. Oh, and the same two people are taking all the penalties.
Written by Rob Smyth
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/apr/27/my-favourite-game-michael-van-gerwen-v-raymond-van-barneveld-2017-pdc-world-championship-darts under the title “My favourite game: Van Gerwen v Van Barneveld, 2017 PDC World Championship | Rob Smyth”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
