Arno Merk advances to the third round of the World Championship after his victory against Peter Wright. There, Michael van Gerwen, another former world champion, awaits him.
Arno Merk didn’t hesitate for a second. “Definitely MvG,” the German darts player said about his desired opponent for the third round of the World Championship in London – and indeed: Just a few hours after Merk’s coup against Peter Wright, three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen sealed the duel with the debutant. For Merk, it’s the perfect Christmas present.
His journey in Alexandra Palace feels like a “beautiful” film. “It’s a romance here right now,” Merk told DAZN, announcing another wild party for Christmas Eve’s eve. “We just want to let loose now, celebrate this amazing success. I have nine truly fantastic people with me again today who have supported me, before on my journey, now here. It’s just wonderful to have them with me. We’re going to truly enjoy this right away.”
As the fourth German player after Martin Schindler, Ricardo Pietreczko, and Gabriel Clemens, Merk secured his participation in the intense tournament phase after the holidays on Tuesday, along with at least 35,000 pounds in prize money. Hopes for a continuation of his successful run are high – even if the next challenge for the tournament newcomer from Peine, Lower Saxony, could hardly be greater.
Just a few months ago, he was still a participant in a reality TV format, and now, after his first-round victory against Belgian Kim Huybrechts (3:1), Merk made another sporting statement with a clear 3:0 win against “Snakebite” Wright, world champion in 2020 and 2022. “Now MvG has to deal with me,” the 33-year-old said, noting to Sport1: “I’m improving a bit. Peter Wright has won two worlds titles, MvG three.”
Merk is currently living an impossible fairy tale. After his first World Championship with the smaller BDO association in 2011, he experienced online hate as an 18-year-old, subsequently stepped back, and temporarily stopped playing darts in 2017. This was also because his career took him to Italy. He only started again in 2023 – and played his way to the biggest stage in the darts world.
Even his qualification was somewhat curious. Due to his participation in the “Darts Party” of broadcaster Sport1 in the Caribbean, he missed some relevant tournaments but returned in time for the crucial qualifying tournament. As an outsider, he secured the eighth German World Championship ticket at the Super League in early November – and aims to annoy the next former world champion on Sunday evening.