---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If somebody plays really well against you…"
description: "\"If somebody plays really well against you and you only make one mistake, the game is gone.\" — Michael van Gerwen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/michael-van-gerwen-6214_failure_if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-yo_3027069.jpg"
---

#  If somebody plays really well against you and you only…

![“If somebody plays really well against you and you only make one mistake, the game is gone.” quote by Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/michael-van-gerwen-6214_failure_if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-yo_3027069.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/michael-van-gerwen-6214_failure_if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-yo_3027069.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/michael-van-gerwen-6214_failure_if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-yo_3027069.jpg)

> “If somebody plays really well against you and you only make one mistake, the game is gone.”

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A single error can cost a match when the opponent plays flawlessly.

**In simple terms:** One mistake can lose the game.

Key Takeaway

Minimize errors against strong opponents.

Themes

precision pressure competition

Mood

tense reflective

Type

strategic inspirational

When to use this quote

- snooker
- tennis
- chess
- public speaking

Key Concepts

error management focus under stress

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you recover after a costly mistake?
- What strategies keep you calm under pressure?

A Different Perspective

Even perfect play can't guarantee victory if you falter.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm not saying I won't make a mistake throughout the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-arrieta/i-m-not-saying-i-won-t-make-a-mistake-throughout-the-game/)

[Jake Arrieta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-arrieta/)

> [My golf game's gone off so much that when I went fishing a couple of weeks ago my first cast missed the lake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-crenshaw/my-golf-game-s-gone-off-so-much-that-when-i-went-fishing-a-couple-of/)

[Ben Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-crenshaw/)

> [When there is a mistake in the game, or even half a mistake, I think I'm quite smart enough to know that I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukasz-fabianski/when-there-is-a-mistake-in-the-game-or-even-half-a-mistake-i-think-i/)

[Lukasz Fabianski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukasz-fabianski/)

> [The more and more I play, I learn from each game. I try not to make the same mistake I made last game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/the-more-and-more-i-play-i-learn-from-each-game-i-try-not-to-make-the/)

[Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/)

> [You will make a mistake in a game, fair enough, but you want your team-mates to help you out because it is a team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kewell/you-will-make-a-mistake-in-a-game-fair-enough-but-you-want-your-team/)

[Harry Kewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kewell/)

> [ Russell \[Wilson\] plays really well in the pocket \[and\] outside the pocket. He’s just a play waiting to happen. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/russell-wilson-plays-really-well-in-the-pocket-and-outside-the-pocket/)

[Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/)

> [In a great romance, each person basically plays a part that the other really likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-ashley/in-a-great-romance-each-person-basically-plays-a-part-that-the-other/)

[Elizabeth Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-ashley/)

> [“In a great romance, each basically plays a part that the other really likes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-ashley/in-a-great-romance-each-basically-plays-a-part-that-the-other-really/)

[Elizabeth Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-ashley/)

> [I'm always reading plays, and when I find something that I really want to do, then I'll make the time to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-lang/i-m-always-reading-plays-and-when-i-find-something-that-i-really-want/)

[Stephen Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-lang/)

> [In a great romance, each person plays a part the other really likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-ashley/in-a-great-romance-each-person-plays-a-part-the-other-really-likes/)

[Elizabeth Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-ashley/)

> [You play it one play at a time, and that's when you can stack plays up really well, including if you have to throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-jones/you-play-it-one-play-at-a-time-and-that-s-when-you-can-stack-plays-up/)

[Mac Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-jones/)

> [One fine day I discovered that more complex plays really have to be directed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-nunn/one-fine-day-i-discovered-that-more-complex-plays-really-have-to-be/)

[Trevor Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-nunn/)

> [There are certain early plays of mine that I really don't like, but I can't imagine going back and fixing them. I would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-baker/there-are-certain-early-plays-of-mine-that-i-really-don-t-like-but-i/)

[Annie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-baker/)

> [“To make a mistake is only human; to persist in a mistake is idiotic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cicero/to-make-a-mistake-is-only-human-to-persist-in-a-mistake-is-idiotic/)

[Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cicero/)

> [If loving you is a big mistake, I will never ever want to be right,i will always make the same mistake over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horla/if-loving-you-is-a-big-mistake-i-will-never-ever-want-to-be-right-i/)

[Horla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horla/)

## More by Michael van Gerwen

> [I walk around at home in my training tracksuit bottoms. I have not been changed by all the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/i-walk-around-at-home-in-my-training-tracksuit-bottoms-i-have-not/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [To win against guys in form is always nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/to-win-against-guys-in-form-is-always-nice/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [You have to make the sacrifice if you want to be the best in what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/you-have-to-make-the-sacrifice-if-you-want-to-be-the-best-in-what-you/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [As long as you keep working, keep digging, then everything works out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/as-long-as-you-keep-working-keep-digging-then-everything-works-out/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [People are allowed to say whatever they want. But if you always talk rubbish, and never fulfil your words, then you need to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/people-are-allowed-to-say-whatever-they-want-but-if-you-always-talk/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [I think if you ask all the players who they want to beat most, it is me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/i-think-if-you-ask-all-the-players-who-they-want-to-beat-most-it-is-me/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [I don't care where the players come from, whether they are English, Scandinavian, German, or Chinese whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/i-don-t-care-where-the-players-come-from-whether-they-are-english/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [Sixteen titles are impossible, I won't be around that long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/sixteen-titles-are-impossible-i-won-t-be-around-that-long/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [One thing is, I never under-perform at the World Championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/one-thing-is-i-never-under-perform-at-the-world-championship/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [I try to watch a movie to relax, talk with the people close to me. But I look at other games to see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/i-try-to-watch-a-movie-to-relax-talk-with-the-people-close-to-me-but/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [Every tournament has something special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/every-tournament-has-something-special/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [Brexit is horrible isn't it? I don't like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/brexit-is-horrible-isn-t-it-i-don-t-like-it/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [I wish everyone gives me attention because when you get attention it is a pleasure, it is something good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/i-wish-everyone-gives-me-attention-because-when-you-get-attention-it/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [When they talk about you it is a good sign, it means you still mean something to the sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/when-they-talk-about-you-it-is-a-good-sign-it-means-you-still-mean/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

> [If I was English, oh my God! Do you know what I mean? What it would have been like over the years. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/if-i-was-english-oh-my-god-do-you-know-what-i-mean-what-it-would-have/)

[Michael van Gerwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

[Explore all 99 Michael van Gerwen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/)

## More Failure quotes

> [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/)

[Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/)

> [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/)

[Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/)

> [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/)

[Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/)

> [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/)

[Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/)

> [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/)

[Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/)

[Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/)

> [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/)

[Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/)

> [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/)

[Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/)

> [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If somebody plays really well against you and you only make one mistake, the game is gone.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael van Gerwen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-you-and-you-only-make-one/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Failure"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-you-and-you-only-make-one/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/michael-van-gerwen-6214_failure_if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-yo_3027069.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/michael-van-gerwen-6214_failure_if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-yo_3027069.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11f/michael-van-gerwen-6214_failure_if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-yo_3027069.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If somebody plays really well against you and you only make one mistake, the game is gone.” — Michael van Gerwen",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Michael van Gerwen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-van-gerwen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If somebody plays really well against...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-you-and-you-only-make-one/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-van-gerwen/if-somebody-plays-really-well-against-you-and-you-only-make-one/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
