I laughed when I saw I was playing Van Gerwen but pep-talk from my wife helped me beat him, says Irish care worker

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN suffered a shock defeat to darts amateur Michael Flynn this week – who drew on inspiration from his wife.

The Irishman stunned the world number two at the Players Championship 3 in Rosmalen, in the Netherlands.

Sky Sports

Michael Flynn shocked Michael van Gerwen at the Players Championship[/caption]

Alamy

He drew on inspiration from his wife to beat the Dutchman[/caption]

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, 32, 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.

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.”

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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.