Michael van Gerwen: Three-time world champion suffers shock defeat by Irish amateur Michael Flynn in Players Championship
Irish amateur Michael Flynn said his shock victory over three-time world champion Michael Van Gerwen was a “huge moment” in his career.
Flynn beat Van Gerwen 6-4 in the first round of the third player championship in Rosmalen, Netherlands in 2025.
The 32-year-old, who works in social care in County Limerick, was added to his daily routine on Sunday morning after multiple evacuations.
This means driving to the Netherlands from his home in western Ireland to his car by car from Dublin Airport to ensure he arrives at the race in time.
Flynn is nicknamed The Flyer – ranked 11th in the Challenge, which is used as a backup list for the Player Championship.
“MVG is not the name you want to see as your first opponent – you want to have a more relaxed game,” Flynn told BBC Sport.
“I know I played well in the game, but beating three-time world champions was a huge moment in my career.”
Flynn’s average of 92.41 in the game was lower than Van Gerwen’s 97.01, but he kept his nerves at the critical moment.
Van Gerwen appeared at the Autotron Center in Rosmalen, the 35-year-old Dutchman’s first game in this year’s Player Championship.
Flynn 2025 PDC World Championwill give him a huge improvement.
He added: “When you play someone like van Gerwen, you have to receive it from the beginning. Win.
“It will give me the confidence to move forward and show me that my game is there if I can keep going and bring it back to the challenge journey.”
Dozens of the world Chris Dobey The final won the overall match by defeating Dutch outsider Jelle Klaasen 8-4.
There are 34 players’ championship games in a year. The second part of Rosmullen’s double-headed head will be held Tuesday, with the final of the match being held at Rayhead from November 21 to 23.
