Michael van Gerwen withdraws from World Darts Championship

Three-time champion Michael van Gerwen has withdrawn from the World Darts Championship after testing positive for Covid-19.

Van Gerwen beat Chas Barstow 3-1 in his opening match and was due to play Chris Dobey on Tuesday night for a place in the last-16.

But the Professional Darts Corporation confirmed ahead of this evening’s matches that Van Gerwen had withdrew from the tournament after testing positive for coronavirus.

A statement from the PDC read: ‘Michael has withdrawn from the William Hill World Darts Championship after testing positive for Covid-19 ahead of his match with Chris Dobey.

‘Dobey will receive a bye to the last 16 and Tuesday evening’s session will continue with two matches, as Rob Cross plays Daryl Gurney and Peter Wright meets Damon Heta.’

Van Gerwen was bidding to win his fourth world title, having emerged victorious at the Alexandra Palace in 2014, 2017 and 2019.

The Dutchman reached the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship last year before losing 5-0 to Dave Chisnall. Welshman Gerwyn Price won the tournament, beating Scotland’s Gary Anderson 7-3 in the final.

Fellow Dutch players Raymond van Barneveld and Vincent van der Voort have also tested positive for Covid-19 after playing at the World Darts Championship.

Five-time world champion Van Barneveld revealed his positive test following a defeat by Rob Cross, while Van der Voort pulled out of his third-round match with James Wade after contracting the virus.

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