"Dominating for years? No - I'm still here and I won't allow that to happen": Van Gerwen bullish on Littler and Humphries leading darts in coming years

Michael van Gerwen has been the yardstick in modern darts for more than a decade. As the sport’s landscape shifts and youngsters such as Luke Littler and Luke Humphries stake their claim, the three-time world champion responded to the narrative that a long-term “Luke era” is underway: he respects the talent but doesn’t accept that either man will rule the game for years to come.

Speaking to talkSPORT at the PDC World Darts Championship 2026 launch, van Gerwen mixed humour with blunt realism. Asked whether the emergence of Littler and Humphries meant a change of guard, he was plain.

“They’re great players, the Humphries, the Luke Littlers, things like that. But dominating for years? No. I’m still here, and I won’t allow that to happen.”

That competitive instinct underpinned much of the interview. Van Gerwen conceded he’d endured a difficult 12 months by his standards, “a disaster of a year” but refused to accept that recent setbacks mean the end of his relevance on the big stage.

“This year, I had a disaster of a year. But you have to take it on the chin and move on. Clean slate for 2026.”

Van Gerwen explained that he will sharpen up with exhibition matches in the run-up to Ally Pally, arguing that playing top players outside ranking events still forces the highest standards.

“Yeah, because you play on a high level. You play against the best players in the world, against the Humphries, the Luke Littlers, things like that, so that always helps.”

Harry Durham for talkSPORT noted how exhibitions have produced elite numbers this year. “You sometimes do see games. I think it was earlier in the year, I think Gezzy versus Luke Humphries, one of them had like a 120 average and one had 116. There’s a good thing about exhibitions, to be fair, that you all take it seriously, no matter where you are in the world.” Van Gerwen’s response was succinct and telling. “Of course, you always want to win.”

Pressed about rankings and whether he pays attention, van Gerwen was blunt. "No. The only thing you can do is try to do as well as possible in every tournament. That’s the only thing you can do.”

Van Gerwen praised Littler and Humphries for their achievements but insisted that their current run of form need not, and will not, last indefinitely. “Yes. Of course, it doesn’t have to be next year. No one’s going to do that for multiple years. But other people still have to step up. If other people don’t step up and other people keep being scared and don’t play as well as they can against them, then anything is possible. But, of course, they’re great players.”

When asked to compare Littler’s year with his own 2016 campaign, van Gerwen gave a measured reply. “Roughly the same, I think. There’s not much in it… it’s difficult to compare, and I don’t like to compare myself to anyone else. Let other people do that.”

Van Gerwen weighed in on Josh Rock, who has edged closer to major finals in recent months but has not yet crossed the line to lift one of the game’s biggest trophies. “It’s difficult. I don’t know him that well. Of course, we see each other. I think talent. I think he has a little bit less talent than the Luke's or myself, just in general. I think he has to work a lot harder to achieve what he does.”

He pointed to Phil Taylor — not as a slight, but as an illustration of different paths to greatness. “Taylor wasn’t a born natural talent. He made himself a machine… Phil was very slow and methodical in the way that he threw a dart.”

Van Gerwen suggested that, like Taylor, players can transform themselves through work and process; talent alone is not the full story.

Van Gerwen was sympathetic about the pressure on Beau Greaves, advising patience. “Yes. Let her enjoy what she’s doing. She does really well. She’s the best woman I’ll play ever. But let her get to a better stage as well. She has to do it herself.”

On Adrian Lewis, van Gerwen doubted the former world champion would return to Q School.

“With his talent, yes, he should. But does he want it? Is it going to make him happy? I think he likes his life now too much. At the same time, he’s just turned 40… but he’s still got more to give to the game, I think.”

Van Gerwen was frank about Raymond van Barneveld’s prospects and mooted he even believes it could be his final weekend. He averaged 79 in an early loss at the Players Championship Finals.

“Depends how he plays. If he plays like last weekend, it’s going to be a short one. I think it’s going to be his last World Championship… He has to step up. But he’s nearly 60 now, eh?”

Life off the oche is also shaping van Gerwen’s decisions. He said the coming year will be about stability — on and off the board. He is currently going through a divorce with long-time wife Daphne also the mother to his two children.

“To get more… to be more steady, also in life, also on the dartboard. To be more stable. I think that’s the most important thing… I also need to see how things are running at home with my kids and everything. Because life has changed for me a little bit — a little bit much.”

Asked whether he’ll avoid more Pro Tours, he would not commit. “I don’t know yet. See how things go.”

Predicting his own run at Alexandra Palace, van Gerwen did not mince his words. “Minimum final.”

When asked whether other players should be worried, he replied: “Yeah, of course. Because the World's is a different animal. Different kind of pressure, different kind of tournament, different kind of atmosphere. And I’ve been there, I’ve done it.”