Emotional Michael van Gerwen bares his soul amid divorce as darts legend feels a change deep within
Honest Michael van Gerwen insists he can make steps as he battles through difficult off-stage issues.
The Dutch darts star faces Josh Rock in the second-round of the Betfred World Matchplay on Wednesday night having started his title bid with a win over Raymond van Barneveld.
Van Gerwen didn't the heights against his countryman, but opened up afterwards on how his life has been impacted in recent times. It's known the 36-year-old is working through a split from wife Daphne, but he also revealed his father underwent surgery last week due to cancer.
Van Gerwen, who has his daughter with him in Blackpool, admitted he wasn't at his best, but explained: 'We all know where I'm coming from. It's not rocket science. I didn't play a lot of tournaments in the last few months. Now it feels like you have to start from scratch and that makes it hard for myself.
'My life is totally different. My dad had an operation last week. Of course, I'm in the middle of a divorce, but for the rest, I feel good. I feel more calm now and I think from here on, I can make steps.
'I'm going to take whatever is possible to do as well as I can. And afterwards I go on holiday. Towards September, October, I need to be fully ready. That's the way it is. When something comes, everything comes together. That's not a nice thing, but unfortunately, that's life.
'What can I expect for myself? Darts moves on and doesn't stop for anyone. Not even for me, not for Phil Taylor, for no one. Simple as that. First rounds of tournaments are always tough. Now with me having a day off, I can relax a little bit more, spend some time with my daughter because she's here with me for the first time and I really enjoy that.
'My priority changed the moment my kids were born. You can say whatever they want, it's fact and it changed people's lives, especially if you look to every sports people around the world, when they have children, things change and it's life. If you look to anyone else around the world, whatever their passion is, their job is, if you ask them what comes first, it's always their children and it's also the same with me.'
Van Gerwen knows his past achievements count for nothing as he said: 'If you want to have any warranty, you need to buy a washing machine or something, you know what I mean? It doesn't mean anything what you did in the last few years, you have to do it now.
'It's a longer project, From last May until now, a lot has been going on and not the nicest things, but it's how life goes. I put the ladder so high for myself as well in the previous years, but I can handle it, I'm a big boy and I love what I do, I love performing and when you don't play well, people can shoot at me, and when I play well, I like people to cheer for me. That's the way how darts is, simple as that.
'It's not only about practise at home. It's everything together, how you think, how you believe, how you act, the energy you have to show. The total package has to be right. You need to give yourself the time and people have to give you the time as well.
'Sometimes it's difficult because I know what I'm capable of. When I'm trying to put on the gas too much, you're going to get thrown back, so you need to make sure you take your time.
'You need to win more games on the highest level and then things will develop for myself. I know that, but I need to give myself the time.'
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