William O'Connor stunned Michael van Gerwen at the Dutch Darts Championship with a 6-1 victory as the Irish ace stole the headlines in a dramatic second round in Maastricht.
Van Gerwen had run out an 8-2 winner when the pair met in the European Darts Matchplay final in Hamburg earlier this year and was aiming to claim his eighth European Tour win of 2018.
However, the clinical Limerick man capitalised on a below-par display from the world number one to finish six doubles from seven attempts in a brilliant performance.
The opening two legs were shared, but O'Connor took the third and then broke throw in the fourth with a 13-darter to move 3-1 up.
He capitalised on two misses at double 16 from Van Gerwen in the fifth, and then landed back-to-back 14-darters to secure a memorable victory.
The defeat was Van Gerwen's first in the last 32 of a European Tour event since October 2015, as O'Connor set up a third round tie with Ricky Evans at midday.
"I'm so proud of myself," admitted O'Connor. "I had the 'undo-able' task and I've done it!
"I always feel like I can beat anybody.
"Michael wasn't on his game but my finishing has been absolutely unbelievable so if I can get my scoring together I'm definitely in there with a shout."
However, that was as good as it got for the Cappamore man as Evans quickly wrapped up a 6-2 win.
Derry's Daryl Gurney survived two missed match darts from Ryan Searle before he finally claimed victory from their tie in a dramatic deciding leg to set up a tasty tie with Joe Cullen, but the World Grand Prix champion lost out on a 6-4 scoreline to the English man.
