By:
Paul Kelly
William O’Connor suffered a freak eye injury as he lost 3-1 to Michael van Gerwen in Round 2 of the World Darts Championship.
The Irishman was contending with some kind of visual impairment as he was beaten by the three-time world champion.
William O’Connor Suffers Freak Eye Injury vs Michael van Gerwen
William O’Connor was defeated 3-1 by three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen in Round 2 of the 2026 World Darts Championship on Tuesday night.
Going into the contest, the stats said O’Connor will beat van Gerwen, but that wasn’t the case on the night as the Dutchman averaged 100.20 To book his place in the last 32 at the Alexandra Palace.
Van Gerwen hit six 180s en route to his 3-1 victory, reeling off six legs on the spin to win the first and second sets, just as it looked like the Irishman was going to clinch the first set with a 100+ average.
In the second set it was apparent that something wasn’t right with ‘The Magpie’, who was getting visibly frustrated whilst chuntering to himself.
O’Connor averaged just 75.46 in the second set as he was brushed aside 3-0 by a rampant ‘MVG’, but it was clear that the Limerick man was having an issue with his left eye.
https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/2003582584643637754
On commentary on Sky Sports Darts, Wayne Mardle pointed out O’Connor’s eye issue and felt the Irishman should have withdrawn from the contest if he was having serious trouble with his vision:
“If the eye problem continues, it’s unlikely Willie gets back into this… but it’s unlikely that Michael lets him back into this,” Mardle said in commentary.
O’Connor’s eye issue was at its worst in the second set, which wasn’t helped by the sheer brilliance of van Gerwen at the same time.
By the third set, which O’Connor won 3-1, it seemed that whatever issue ‘The Magpie’ had with his eye had cleared up.
That being said, it wasn’t enough to beat the rampant Dutchman who won the fourth set in style to send the 39-year-old home early for Christmas.
MVG BREAKS TO LEAD!
Look at that reaction from Michael van Gerwen 🔥
The Dutchman pins a huge 89 checkout to snatch the first set from Willie O'Connor!
📺 https://t.co/59TualjgND #WCDarts | R2 pic.twitter.com/4CAppeTwUo
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 23, 2025
No Irish Players Left At World Darts Championship
Before a dart was thrown at the 2026 World Darts Championship, Keane Barry was Ireland’s strongest hope for success at Ally Pally.
Steve Lennon was up against it from the get-go, facing the seeded Damon Heta in Round 1. ‘Scuba Steve’ ended up losing to the Aussie, which was expected by the majority of darts fans.
William O’Connor had the highest average of anyone at the Worlds in Round 1 with his impressive 3-0 display, before Gian van Veen surpassed O’Connor with a blistering 108+ average in the second round.
VAN GERWEN THROUGH TO ROUND THREE!
Michael Van Gerwen delivers a clinical performance, averaging over a ton in his 3-1 win against Willie O'Connor!
📺 https://t.co/59TualjgND #WCDarts | R2 pic.twitter.com/yaJdWOdck9
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 23, 2025
Lennon was eliminated in Round 1, with both Barry and O’Connor making it to the second round.
However, neither ‘The Magpie’ nor ‘Dynamite’ was able to win their respective Round 2 encounters, meaning there are now no Irish players left at this year’s Worlds.
Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock is the only player in the last 32 from the island of Ireland, but O’Connor, Barry and Lennon have now all officially been eliminated.
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