Michael van Gerwen was punched in the face by a stranger in a bar in the Netherlands on Monday.
The incident occurred in the city of Den Bosch on King’s Day.
Footage shared online shows Van Gerwen in conversation with a man and a woman in the bar. The man then hits Van Gerwen in the face, after which security pull the attacker away as Van Gerwen pursues him across the bar.
Van Gerwen’s Reaction to the Attack
Van Gerwen said the attacker “clearly had too much to drink” and expressed regret at his response to the incident.
“That man had clearly had too much to drink and it felt to me like his anger came out of nowhere,” Van Gerwen told Dutch sport news website Sportnieuws.nl.
“Just as he seemed to be heading for the exit, he suddenly lashed out.
“That man clearly knows he was in the wrong because he apologised via Instagram.”
Van Gerwen said of his reaction to the incident: “Of course, it’s not right for me to go after him but that was an automatic reaction of shock.”
No Charges Filed
Van Gerwen has decided not to press charges against the person responsible for the attack.
Humphries Closes the Gap
The incident occurred before Van Gerwen was back in Premier League action in Aberdeen on Thursday.
Luke Humphries beat Van Gerwen 6-3 in their quarter-final clash in Scotland.
Humphries’ win against Michael van Gerwen on Thursday put him back within touching distance of the Dutchman, in fourth.
Van Gerwen’s Darts Career
- Van Gerwen was ranked world number one between 2014 and 2021.
- He won the Masters five times in a row during that period.
- With 48 majors singles to his name, Van Gerwen is ranked second in the PDC’s all-time list behind England’s Phil Taylor.
One of the greatest players in darts history, Van Gerwen will be looking to put this incident behind him as he focuses on upcoming tournaments.