Michael van Gerwen was crushed 2-0 (3-0, 3-0) in the first round of the World Grand Prix by Daryl Gurney without winning a leg.
After some high-profile departures already including Luke Littler and Michael Smith, this was an excellent opportunity for MVG to get back to winning ways in major tournaments.
But the six-time World Grand Prix champion was shellshocked by a stunning performance from Gurney, who did not let his opponent settle.
The Dutchman was surprisingly wayward with his finishing while his decision-making left Wayne Mardle on Sky Sports commentary bamboozled.
Michael van Gerwen is out of the Grand Prix
Sky Sports
With Gurney a leg away from victory the chance to at least win a leg, Van Gerwen left himself six.
But after missing his first two darts, he hit a single three before Gurney returned to the board and clinically scored his double to progress to the next round.
Van Gerwen looked down at the floor as Mardle ranted: “I am sorry. I don’t care what you’ve won, you have got to question that board management.”
Commentator Stuart Pike went further: “That is one of the most embarrassing defeats of Michael van Gerwen’s career, certainly here at the World Grand Prix.”
It is the first time in 13 years that the 35-year-old has failed to win a single leg in a televised ranking event.
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On that occasion, Gary Anderson beat him 6-0 in the Players Championship in 2011 when Van Gerwen was just 22.
While the two shook hands at the Leicester venue, the Green Machine will know this is a massive chance for silverware missed out.
It has been a rollercoaster of a year for MVG so far, who missed out on the Premier League title to newcomer Littler.
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Van Gerwen before the tournament got underway had vowed to challenge Luke Humphries and Littler, who are two of the top players in the world right now.
It came after victory at the Hungarian Darts Trophy in September, which was his first European Tour title in 16 months by beating countryman Gian van Veen 8-7.
Just days before, he won his first ranking tournament of the year when he claimed victory at the Players Championship 21.
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“One of the most embarrassing defeats of Van Gerwen’s career” 😨
❌ MVG is dismantled by Daryl Gurney and is OUT pic.twitter.com/3Azbkv0AQc
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) October 8, 2024
Van Gerwen had said: “I’ll definitely be there [among the best darts players in the world five years from now].
“I’m not going to stop in five years, they’ll [Littler and Humphries] need to do really well to keep me off my position and if they want to win as many tournaments [as me] in five years.
“I can’t see that happening, but you never know.”