By:
Paul Kelly
Irish darts star William O’Connor is on a collision course with three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen at the 2026 World Darts Championship.
If both O’Connor and ‘MVG’ win their respective first round ties, the pair will meet in Round 2 at Ally Pally.
William O’Connor On Collision Course With Michael van Gerwen At World Darts Championship
The 2026 World Darts Championship is here as Luke Littler aims to defend his crown at the Alexandra Palace in London come the New Year.
A whole host of big names and darting stars will be confident of toppling ‘The Nuke’, with a total of 128 players in Round 1 action at Ally Pally, starting on Thursday, December 11.
One of those men who will have aspirations of a strong run is William O’Connor.
The Irishman is in the fourth quarter of the World Darts Championship draw bracket and faces a Round 1 tie with Poland’s Krzysztof Kciuk. O’Connor is expected to win this match on paper, and goes in as the fairly heavy favourite with price-setters.
Should he get past Kciuk, a potential meeting with three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen awaits in Round 2.
https://twitter.com/SkySportsDarts/status/1870223245435134274
The Dutchman faces Japanese qualifier Mitsuhiko Tatsunami in the first round, and like O’Connor is expected to come through that tussle. If he does, then it will be ‘MVG’ versus ‘The Magpie’ in the second round at Ally Pally.
This potential Round 2 tie is colossal for the 39-year-old Limerick man, who will perhaps even fancy his chances against van Gerwen should the pair meet in the Last 64.
Three-time world champion ‘MVG’ isn’t throwing his best darts right now, losing far more regularly than darts fans are accustomed to with the ‘Green Machine’. This could mean a monumental victory for O’Connor, should he advance to Round 2 and defeat the darting juggernaut.
The pair have met each other 11 times previously on the PDC circuit dating back to 2012, with the Dutchman winning all but one of their meetings. O’Connor’s sole victory over van Gerwen came in a 6-1 thrashing at European Tour 11 back in 2018.
https://twitter.com/SkySportsDarts/status/1870232254053581006
William O’Connor Potential World Darts Championship Opponents
Provided William O’Connor gets through his Round 1 meeting with Poland’s Krzysztof Kciuk, he could be in for some mammoth battles against several darting stars should he continue to advance each round he plays.
Winning on the Ally Pally stage is obviously extremely difficult, but if ‘The Magpie’ has a strong run at the 2026 World Darts Championship, he could potentially meet several former world champions and big names along the way.
As previously mentioned, win his Round 1 meeting with Kciuk and a second round clash with Michael van Gerwen is highly likely. If O’Connor can somehow win that match-up, then a potential Round 3 tie with two-time world champion Peter Wright looks like the most likely outcome.
Should O’Connor then advance to Round 4 (last 16), a meeting with either two-time world champion Gary Anderson or perhaps Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena could be on the cards.
https://twitter.com/joshpearson180/status/1842274397907804346
If O’Connor can reach the quarter-final, then his most likely opponent would be either Danny Noppert or World Championship hopeful Josh Rock.
Winning his quarter of the draw would be a monumental achievement for the Limerick man, but if he does then a semi-final meeting with Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, James Wade or Nathan Aspinall looks highly likely.
If O’Connor plays the darts of his life and makes it all the way to the 2026 World Darts Championship Final in the New Year, a meeting with reigning world champion and world number one Luke Littler likely awaits.
Not to mention a potential final against players such as Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton or a whole host of other big names who are on the other side of the draw bracket.
William O’Connor Most Likely Route To World Darts Championship Final
| Round | Possible Opponent |
|---|---|
| Round 2 | Michael van Gerwen |
| Round 3 | Wright/Huybrechts |
| Round 4 | Anderson/Wattimena |
| Quarter-Final | Noppert/Rock |
| Semi-Final | Humphries/van Veen/Aspinall/Wade |
| Final | Littler/Price/Bunting/Clayton |
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