DARTS amateur Michael Flynn handed Michael Van Gerwen a shock beating this week – after being inspired by his wife.
The Irish care worker stunned the world number two at the Players Championship 3 in Rosmalen, in the Netherlands.
He beat Van Gerwen 6-4 despite laughing when he was drawn against the three-time world champion.
Flynn told Sky Sports: “I laughed when I saw I was playing Van Gerwen.
“I text my wife and she said, ‘good, you need to play against these fellas if you are planning on becoming a professional, so just go out and beat him’ – and I did.”
Flynn is world number 128 and he shocked the Dutch crowd by beating their home favourite.
It is his biggest career win to date – his previous came in the 2023 UK Open when he beat Jonathan Wynn in the first round.
The 32-year-old works in social care in County Limerick in his day job and was only added to the PDC event’s entry list on Sunday morning.
His inclusion came after several late withdrawals from the tournament.
The last-minute phone call meant a three-hour dash by car from his home on the west coast of Ireland to Dublin airport.
Flynn added: “It was a big moment and a bit of a shock – a shock to most people, I think. A shock to him.
“To beat him in his back garden especially was a huge achievement. I was delighted with it, it worked out well for me.
“It probably is a big enough moment for darts that people who are amateurs can see we can mix it with the big boys and beat them on any given day.”
Unfortunately for Flynn he could not replicate his performance in the second round against Tytus Kanik as he fell to a 6-4 defeat.
Chris Dobey came out on top and won the tournament, beating Jelle Klaasen in the final.
[boxout headline=”Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues”]Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 6 – Nottingham: Price beat Littler 6-3
Night 7 – Cardiff: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4
Night 8 – Newcastle: Littler beat Humphries 6-1
Night 9 – Berlin: Bunting beat Price 6-5
Night 10 – Manchester: Aspinall beat Humphries 6-4
Night 11 – Rotterdam: Dobey beat Bunting 6-2
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29