Defiant Michael van Gerwen fires back at lazy jibes as darts superstar lifts the lid on his struggles

Daily Record

18-05-2025

The Dutchman endured a rough start to 2025 and is in danger of missing out on the Premier League play-offs
Defiant Michael van Gerwen has fired back at lazy jibes as he opened up on his struggles for form and deep desire to hit future targets.
The Dutch star has endured a rough start to 2025 and is in danger of missing out on the Premier League play-offs having also shown inconsistent form in other events.
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As Luke Littler and Luke Humphries mop up major darts titles, Van Gerwen is swimming against a powerful tide, but refutes suggestions he's not doing the required graft. The Green Machine's big pal and best man at his wedding Vincent ver der Voort has been harsh in his recent criticism saying the three-times world champion needs to take less holidays and get down to more work.
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But van Gerwen responded to any notion he's got sloppy and said: 'I've been working and practising a lot. Of course, it doesn't always pay out, but I'm doing the work, what you have to do and what you want to put in and, of course, at some point it will pay out. I know that.
'Sometimes when you're too busy, people don't know my schedule. Maybe only Phil Taylor, maybe Luke Littler now, but no-one else my schedule in the last 13, 14, 15 years, so it's difficult for them to judge about it. They've never been in that position. I have to just answer with performances and it's the only thing I can do.
'I've been in tough positions before as well, I had some other tough patches in my life, but you always survive. I know what I'm capable of. Believe in your own ability and then the rest will come automatically. You're going to have tough patches, but as long as you keep believing that everything is possible and that's what I keep grab of and hold of, to make sure that's going to happen.
'It's like a big rollercoaster at the moment and things don't always go my way. Too many games, I have to battle too much and then you make it hard for yourself. I shouldn't put myself in that position, but sometimes that's the way how things go.
'I'm a human being as well and I know I'm capable of it, and then when you don't show it, you get frustrated, you get annoyed,and you want to do better, but don't worry. I'm still going, and I still love what I do. You also need to look to reality. When you play poorly, you play poorly. You can have a big mouth, but you have to show it on the dartboard and that's the only thing I can do at the moment.'
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Speaking to Online Darts, van Gerwen continued: 'Of course, I say, when I'm on top of my game, I know I can beat anyone, probably be the best player in the world, but I don't show it enough at the moment and that's a question I have to answer myself to solve it and to make sure I'm going to turn it.
'When you're facing the past, your back [is] against the future and I want to face the future. I'm getting older. I've been in the game for a long time. I've played darts for more than 25 years now and sometimes it gets a bit harder. Then you need to try to invest more time into yourself. But I'm willing to do that and I feel good. I feel comfortable and I think there's more in the tank.
'I'll never look to someone else because you can keep looking, but it's not going to change anything. You have to change yourself and that's the only answer you can get. As long as I keep enjoying the game, from there on, anything is possible.'
Van Gerwen is missing next month's World Cup for a holiday, but stated: 'My ranking, I need to make sure I maintain it or do better and, of course, do better is my main priority. The World Cup is a nice tournament to win. But it's not ranked. I can't really gain anything and I need some time off with my family as well, so in that period, I go a nice week away with my wife. I think it's a good reason.'