Van Gerwen left “upset” over cheating allegations from Noppert
Michael van Gerwen admits he was left “upset” by allegations of cheating from Danny Noppert during their First Round match at the World Grand Prix on Monday.
Noppert claimed Van Gerwen was “stamping” on the stage whilst he was throwing for a double during the first set of the contest at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
Noppert went on to complete a straight sets victory to secure his first success over MVG in televised competition, but later admitted the pair had exchanged words backstage.
Noppert revealed: “We had some troubles in the first set. I said to him “you’re stamping on the floor when I’m on a double” and we had some words with each other after the first set.
“For my feeling, it was [deliberate], I think a player like Michael – he doesn’t do that – but for my feeling, he did.
“He was angry, I think, and he was playing well in the second set, but I was focused, I wanted to win the match.
“I didn’t want things to happen this way, it’s bad. He lost but it’s brilliant for me that I won.”
Van Gerwen, who suffered defeat in the opening round for only the third time in 11 Boylesports World Grand Prix appearances, took to Twitter shortly after the match.
Angry and disappointed that I didn’t win tonight. The fans were phenomenal in Leicester tonight. I have played this sport a long time and have never and will never use tactics on the oche. Thank you for all the support 💚💚 pic.twitter.com/tJc4guWS2p
— Michael Van Gerwen (@MvG180) October 4, 2021
Speaking to RTL7, the five-time Grand Prix champion denied any use of deliberate gamesmanship on the stage, adding: “He said to me that I was a cheater, that I was stomping. I was a bit upset about that.
“Of course that shouldn’t happen, I have to blame myself for that. But of course you are affected by something like that.
“If someone is not like that, it’s me who wins. I certainly resent that.”
Noppert will now meet Van Gerwen’s close friend Vincent van der Voort in the Second Round on Wednesday.
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