"All milk it because their ability is a little bit less": MIchael van Gerwen calls walk-on theatrics a facade, dubs Van den Bergh's 'worst one ever'

Michael van Gerwen took down Mitsuhiko Tatsunami surviving a scare against the Japanese star in a 3-1 win at the PDC World Darts Championship and amid another cult walk-on by his opponent, the Dutch juggernaut took aim at players using theatrics to try to mask poor ability.

Van Gerwen albeit has long had one of the most popular darts walk-ons with Seven Nation Army by White Stripes which is easily singable to Oh Michael van Gerwen but while he backs it up, he said for others it is a cloak of armour which they use as a facade to mask shortcomings.

Walk-ons have become more prevalent in regards to virality with Leonard Gates, Motomu Sakai, Nitin Kumar among others being stand-outs so far but Van Gerwen has made his thoughts clear at the PDC World Darts Championship.

“Some dart players now think their walk-on music makes them a better dart player. Some people have started to believe too much in themselves now. They all milk it because their ability is a little bit less, so they have to try and get the crowd on their side somehow," said Van Gerwen as per talkSPORT.

Even more so in the direction of a certain Dimitri van den Bergh who has since changed his walk-on after walking out to Happy by Pharrell Williams for a number of years. Albeit he has often received criticism mostly on social media for it and Van Gerwen called it horrible and the worst one ever.

Van den Bergh exited at the first round stage to Darren 'Ice Cold' Beveridge so luckily for MVG at least we won't see the walk-on again this fortnight.

“It was horrific. The worst one ever. That’s why he’s at home now and I’m here.”

Asked about the GOAT debate in darts, one that rumbles on during tennis and football too between the top names of the past era, MVG said it's like apples and oranges and comparing each player can be done based on opinion solely and it is different eras.

“It’s difficult to compare, I think. Who is the greatest football player? (Diego) Maradona? Is it (Lionel) Messi? Is it Pele? Is it Johan Cruyff? Do you know what I mean? It’s different eras. We can’t compare them with each other, so it’s tough. Same with football. 

“I’m not going to answer that. I’m the best. I’m not going to say I’m the greatest, but I know I’m the best one.” 

Asked if he is the best player of the past 20 years, the confidence is unequivocally clear “100 per cent.” Albeit as Phil Taylor was mentioned he quipped that he was the one to make him retire.