Irish beginner Michael Flynn says his shock victory over three-time world darts champion Michael van Gerwen is a “huge second” in his profession.
Flynn beat Van Gerwen 6-4 in Monday’s first spherical of the third Gamers Championship of 2025 in Rosmalen, the Netherlands.
The 32-year-old, who works in social care in County Limerick in his day job, was solely added to the PDC occasion’s entry listing on Sunday morning after a lot of withdrawals.
It meant a three-hour sprint by automotive from his house within the west of Eire to Dublin airport to catch a flight to the Netherlands to make sure he reached the match in time.
Flynn – nicknamed ‘the Flying’ – is ranked eleventh on the Problem Tour, which is used as a reserve listing for Gamers Championship occasions.
“MVG wasn’t the title you wish to see as your first opponent – you’d hope for a better sport,” Flynn informed BBC Sport.
“I knew my kind was good coming into the match however to beat a three-time world champion is a large second in my profession.”
Flynn’s common of 92.41 within the match was decrease than Van Gerwen’s 97.01 however he held his nerve on the essential moments.
Van Gerwen’s look on the Autotron Centre in Rosmalen was the 35-year-old Dutchman’s first on this yr’s Gamers Championship.
Flynn was overwhelmed 6-4 by Poland’s Tytus Kanik within the subsequent spherical however acknowledged his victory over Van Gerwen, who completed runner-up to Luke Littler within the 2025 PDC World Championship, will give him an enormous raise.
He added: “When you find yourself taking part in somebody like Van Gerwen it’s important to tune in from the get-go. It type of opened my eyes to the skilled circuit, the usual it’s important to be at from the off if you wish to get a win.
“It is going to give me confidence transferring ahead and reveals me my sport is there if I can proceed it and take it again to the Problem Tour.”
World quantity 10 Chris Dobey received the general match with a snug 8-4 victory over Dutch outsider Jelle Klaasen within the closing.
There are 34 Gamers Championship occasions throughout the yr. The second a part of the Rosmalen double-header will happen on Tuesday, with the competitors’s finals held in Minehead from 21 to 23 November.
