"Every TV event he’s making no impact" – Mark Webster fears Michael van Gerwen could make an early exit at the Grand Slam of Darts
PDC
Michael van Gerwen and Josh Rock will need to be on their guard at the Grand Slam of Darts. Former professional darts player Mark Webster believes both could be knocked out in the group stage. The Welshman is particularly concerned about Van Gerwen’s form and confidence.
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The Grand Slam of Darts begins in Wolverhampton on Saturday, 14.11.2026. Van Gerwen has been drawn in a group with Jeffrey de Graaf and Henry Coates, while Rock will face Kevin Doets and Tommy Morris. Under the revised format, only group winners advance to the knockout stage, leaving little room for error.
Speaking during a special SunSport preview, Webster voiced doubts about Rock’s chances. The Northern Irishman has shown what he can do on several occasions this season, but the former Lakeside champion says he does not always produce his best darts.
"I hope he proves me wrong because I really like Josh Rock, but his group’s tough and he’s been up and down at the minute," said Webster. "But yeah, look, he’s going to need to be fired up with Kevin Dutes in there and Tommy Morris, who’s just going to be chomping at the bit. Look, I think he could be in danger.”
Webster sees a lack of confidence in Van Gerwen
Webster is far from optimistic about Van Gerwen, either. The three-time world champion is enduring a difficult season and has struggled to make his mark at the major televised events. Webster believes a lack of confidence is the Dutchman’s main problem.
"You feel, could lose to anyone, but he’s still, at times, playing," said Webster. "There’s a confidence issue there, he needs to just get out of that group."
Webster believes Van Gerwen should not worry about how he wins his matches just yet. The result matters more than the standard of his play, he says. "If he comes through with a running average of 85, so be it, just get out the group, it doesn’t matter, does it?"
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Webster can see the disappointing results at televised events taking their toll on Van Gerwen. The Dutchman is also beginning to feel the impact in the world rankings.
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“For Michael, at the minute, it’s just a bit of a dent in confidence, every TV event he’s making no impact. This one’s really important, because we can see his ranking slipping."
Webster believes Van Gerwen could even lose his place among the world’s top 16 if his poor results continue. “It’s the business end of the year as well, potentially outside the top 16 if he doesn’t have a strong year. "For Michael, get out the group, and then I think he’ll relax in a race to 10, and he could have a good tournament.”
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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
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