Michael van Gerwen was convincingly knocked out in the last 16 of the UK Open on Saturday evening in Minehead, falling 10-3 to a rampant James Wade. Wade produced an exceptionally strong performance with a 105.83 average and a checkout rate of nearly sixty percent, proving far too strong for the Dutchman, who had no answer to his opponent's high level.
After the match, Van Gerwen was critical of his own display on Viaplay, admitting he gave Wade too much room early on. "I think I gave him too much confidence at the start of the match. I miss an important chance, I believe a 111 checkout, but that in itself doesn't matter. The problem is that he immediately gets three darts at a double after that. You can't miss those kinds of things, especially not against him," he said.
Wade took complete control after the opening phase, breaking Van Gerwen multiple times with 11- and 12-dart legs and never once letting his lead slip. Van Gerwen attributed this to his own weak start, stating, "After that he just starts throwing fantastically well. You have to give him credit, because after that it was James Wade at a level I don't often see him reach." Wade broke the Dutchman a total of five times, building a commanding lead in a short span—three times in 12 darts and twice in 11. Van Gerwen couldn't live with the pace and saw the match slip from his grasp early, ending his hopes for a fourth UK Open title in Minehead.
