Mensur Suljovic says he will not be trying to slow down Michael van Gerwen in their World Darts Championship meeting and he never resorts to those tactics.
The Austrian beat Mike De Decker 3-0 on Thursday afternoon to set up a meeting with the tournament favourite in the third round at Alexandra Palace.
Van Gerwen would be fancied to beat anyone in the draw and will be a runaway favourite against Suljovic who has had a quiet year on tour, partly due to some health problems hampering him.
The 50-year-old has a unique style at the oche and it can be quite a ponderous one at times, occasionally looking very slow when he plays the quicker players.
It was put to him that he could look to slow down MVG to try and get him out of his rhythm, but Suljovic insists that he would not dream of it.
‘No, never, never doing this,’ he said. ‘Everyone always tells me I play slow against quick players, but I never do. I play my game, focus on my feelings.
‘Michael is my friend, I like him. He’s a brilliant guy.’
Gary Anderson would probably disagree with Suljovic’s claim, having been left fuming with the Austrian after their match in the 2021 World Championship.
The Scot won 4-3 in the third round, but was irritated by what he saw as Suljovic trying to slow him down.
‘Absolutely dire, absolute joke of a game. Everyone says why do you get cheesed off with darts? That’s one of the reasons,’ Anderson told Sky Sports in December 2020.
‘I nicked it at the end, I don’t know how but if that’s darts I’m offski. If that’s how darts is going and that’s how it gets played now, have fun. I’m off. I’m away for a game of golf or something. I’m not going through that again.’
Suljovic was pleased to turn in a decent performance to beat De Decker, but knows that it will have to be much better to beat Van Gerwen, who was absolutely sparkling in his opening game against Lewy Williams.
Might Mike beat the Welshman 3-0, averaging 101.84 and wrapping up the second set in just 36 darts.
‘I’m so happy, I played good today, but I keep my best game for next,’ said Suljovic on Thursday. ‘Michael van Gerwen is the favourite every time. Last game I watched on TV and he played brilliant, second set fantastic, but every game is different.
‘I’m a player who likes the long games, I hope I give him pressure.’
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