‘QUEEN’ DREAMS OF A LONG REIGN

GREEN machine Michael van Gerwen watched another major rival crash and burn, then told the chasing pack: “Only grafters win.”

By Friday night, when Gary Anderson was knocked out by Nathan Aspinall, seven of the world’s top 10 had been eliminated from thewilliam Hill PDC World Championship.

And reigning championvan

Gerwen (right), marching ominously towards a fourth crown after dropping just one set so far, shrugged: “I don’t know why so many of the top players went out so early – maybe the preparation was wrong for some of them. I know that people who are not grafters never win.”

Van Gerwen gave a seal of approval to Fallon Sherrock’s illumination of the darts showpiece as the first woman to beat male opponents at Alexandra Palace, where she reached the third round. He said: “She did phenomenal for herself and for women’s darts.”