Seven feet, 9.25 inches. A little under two-and-a-half metres. Not so great a distance if, say, you were face-to-face with a grizzly bear, but it’s a mighty long way when you are standing, dart in-hand, all alone at the oche.

“Let him cry a little bit because I don't give a s**** to be honest with you.”

World number 1 Michael van Gerwen has powered through to the semi-finals of the William Hill World Darts Championship.

In a classic and dramatic affair, Van Gerwen’s average of 105.78 was the highest ever for a loser.