Limerick man William O'Connor eyes glamour World Darts Championship clash with Michael van Gerwen

LIMERICK'S darting superstar, William O’Connor returns to the Alexandra Palace this Tuesday, December 23, when he faces off against three-time champion, Michael Van Gerwen, who is ranked number three in the world.

The second round tie (last 64) at the Professional Darts Corporation’s World Darts Championship, is pencilled in for a 9.10pm start, live on Sky Sports. It is the penultimate game of the action, pre-Christmas. 

From the list of the entire 64 round one winners, it was Cappamore’s latest sporting export O’Connor, who registered the highest average.

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A notch over 102 is not to be sniffed at, especially over three sets and despite the immediate compliments at the venue and further afield, the Limerick man was bullish in his post-match press conference.

“I don’t care what anybody takes notice of. I got the win and it is onto the next one.”

Krzysztof Kciuk represented a potentially tricky opening round opponent, but the experienced O’Connor easily able to take care of the Pole. This the seventh time in nine editions that he has won his opening round tie.

But, as has been the case so often, a seeded player lies in store in round two. Van Gerwen, runner-up last year, has been below-par so far this year, something O’Connor was quick to dismiss.

“It’s the same man, it is the same person that I am playing. I am playing against me. If I go up and play my best darts, that is all that I can do, I can only focus on me. I am my biggest enemy, if I play my darts, I win.”

O’Connor kept an eye on his Dutch rival on Thursday, as ‘MVG’ defeated Japan’s Mitsuhiko Tatsunami, in an underwhelming display.

“I thought he was poor. But at the same time, Michael knows that he is 100 times better than that. I know that he is not going to play like that again, he is a fantastic player. He is one of, if not the best player in the world, so I am up against it. I am on the back foot going into it”, added the 39-year-old.

O’Connor looks to qualify for the third round at the Worlds for just the third time, last doing so in 2021/22, while Van Gerwen has reached round three or better each time since 2011, while he was last winner in 2018/19.