The Dutch star eased into the last 16 with a comfortable performance, just a day after Unterbuchner had jokingly played down the challenge of facing him. After his first-round win over William O’Connor, the German had quipped that he was “looking forward” to the clash, a comment Van Gerwen clearly didn’t appreciate.
Responding after the match, the three-time world champion dismissed his opponent’s chances, stating that even below his best level he was still more than capable of winning. He also made it clear that he remains fully focused on progressing further in the tournament rather than being concerned by such remarks.
On the board, Van Gerwen backed up his words with a solid display, averaging 91 and producing a standout 102 checkout to seal the win.
Next up for him is fellow Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, who advanced after defeating Kevin Doets. Van Gerwen admitted his own performance had mixed moments but stressed that getting the win was what mattered most.
He also pointed to the atmosphere and the fans’ enjoyment as a key part of the occasion, adding that it has been some time since his last title at this event and he is eager to make another strong run.
Van Gerwen last lifted the European Tour trophy here in 2018 and acknowledged that, while he has a strong record against Wattimena dating back to their early playing days, he will need to be at his best against an in-form opponent.
Elsewhere, the tournament saw a major surprise as Germany’s Niko Springer knocked out defending champion Gary Anderson with an impressive 6–3 victory. The 25-year-old will now face Danny Noppert, who progressed after beating Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak.
Speaking after his win, Springer said the result meant a lot, especially with strong support from family and friends close to home, and described the moment as a special one in his career.
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