Blue Square UK Open Darts

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Michael 'Mighty Mike' van Gerwen

Born in Boxtel, Netherlands in 1989, Michael van Gerwen is the most exciting youngster currently playing darts, and at just 17 years of age he has already been the subject of controversy having committed himself to the BDO, only to join the PDC in January 2007.

Installed as the pre-tournament favourite for this year's BDO World Championship, van Gerwen bowed out in the first round to Gary Robson with a very poor 89.49 3-dart average, perhaps distracted by his imminent switch to the PDC.

Such expectations arose from 'Mighty Mike' beating Eric Bristow's record to become the youngest ever player to win the Winmau World Masters in 2006, making a rousing comeback against long-term BDO number 1 Martin Adams in the final to truly announce his arrival as a force in the sport. Earlier the same year he had lost to Adams in the semi-final of the Bavaria World Darts Trophy, this precocious young talent thrilling the crowd with a 170 checkout and coming within one dart of a 9-dart finish along the way.

Previous UK Open Performances
2003	N/A
2004	N/A
2005	N/A
2006	N/A
2007	5th Round

Michael's PDC debut came in January's Players Championship in Gibraltar, defeating rising star Andy Hamilton on his way to the last 16 where he was defeated by fellow countryman Roland Scholten. A tenacious, talented player who is widely tipped to enjoy a plethora of titles over the next few decades, van Gerwen started amongst the favourites for this year's Blue Square UK Open and the fearless youngster breezed through the first four rounds as belief began to grow in Bolton that he could record a famous title win.

Unfortunately for Michael he ran into an inspired Colin Osborne in the fifth round - the Derby man taking out a 170 finish on his way to an 11-7 victory - but the Dutch teenager had shown enough to justify his position as third favourite behind Taylor and van Barneveld. The darting world is at this young man's feet, and everyone is looking forward to seeing him go even further in next year's Blue Square UK Open.

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