"For how well Josh Rock throws, he doesn't win much" - Van Gerwen gave rival a lesson in winning during World Series Finals claims Van der Voort

After weeks of doubt, criticism and disappointing performances, Michael van Gerwen suddenly found himself back on stage as a winner this weekend. At the AFAS Live in Amsterdam, the Dutchman won the 2025 World Series of Darts Finals - ending a two-year televised trophy drought. "If someone had said that on Friday, you would have said: he is not right in the head," Vincent van der Voort summed it up on the podcast Darts Draait Door.

The expectations surrounding Van Gerwen were anything but high beforehand. He was not in great form in recent weeks, and the draw did not bode well. Opponents such as Rob Cross, Luke Humphries, Josh Rock and Luke Littler, all world class players, were lurking. Still, Van Gerwen rolled back the years with some brilliant performances.

Van der Voort: "He really had a tough draw. They were all top players. When was the last time he played such matches in a row? With a tournament average of 102, Van Gerwen proved that he can still play at the highest level. Damian Vlottes emphasized it in the podcast: "Finally the confirmation that this is still in it. That's very important."

The title came at a special time for Van Gerwen. After his divorce, the Dutchman was going through a difficult period. The presence of daughter Zoë gave the success an extra charge. "On the way back in the car, she immediately fell asleep on his shoulder. Eight years old, after a weekend like that, then of course you are completely devastated," Van der Voort said. Van Gerwen himself visibly fought back tears afterwards: "Everyone knows where I come from and how hard I had to work. This gives a lot of satisfaction." His circle of friends also celebrated exuberantly. "Yesterday he had 37 guests with him," Van der Voort laughed. "When you win, you have friends."

That Van Gerwen was able to win the tournament at all was not solely in his own hands. Already in the first round he escaped against Wessel Nijman, who missed a matchdart on double 16. "It's as simple as that," Van der Voort said. "The first two rounds Michael gets two matchdarts against him. Nijman just played really well. If that 112 goes out, Van Gerwen is already out in the first round."

Nijman played strongly, but looked tense. "You could see from his face that there was a lot of tension. And that's logical, he doesn't have that much experience. But starting the deciding leg with 41... that still sticks," Vlottes said. Where Nijman struggled with the pressure, Van Gerwen showed the essence of a champion: the difference between playing well and winning.

'Mighty Mike' then managed to fight his way past Cross, thanks in part to a phenomenal 122 finish, and then eliminated Luke Humphries and Josh Rock in high-level matches. Against Rock, he threw perhaps his best match of the weekend, according to Van der Voort. It marked the mentality of the three-time world champion: "The difference between very good darters and winners. Michael knows what it is to win a tournament. He is not afraid of those moments," Van der Voort analysed.

Even in the final against teenage sensation Luke Littler, he held his own, though his energy visibly sank. "That might still be the only point," Van der Voort admitted. "He has become much fitter, but at the end you could see he was empty. Still, he then throws a decisive 130 finish, which is class."

A recurring theme in the podcast was the role of the audience. Van Gerwen knows better than anyone how to get a room behind you, but for other Dutchmen it worked out very differently. For example, Cor Dekker, born in the Netherlands but playing under the flag of Norway, was loudly booed in his match against Raymond van Barneveld when he missed six match darts. "Everyone just wanted Raymond to win," Van der Voort stated. "That can't be justified, but it shouldn't be a surprise either. When you miss six matchdarts, the public becomes merciless."

Dekker reacted angrily and did not congratulate Van Barneveld. A striking choice, which Van der Voort said mainly exposed his inexperience: "You throw yourself wrong. Of course that's tough, but then not to give a hand ... that's not strong."

So Van Barneveld escaped against Dekker, but then showed against Gerwyn Price that he can still compete at the highest level. Price's physical condition was remarkable. The dart player has lost some weight lately, but according to Van der Voort he looked too vulnerable: "He was really worn out. Normally he screams everything together, now it seemed like he needed a chair at any moment." His lack of energy eventually cost him his head in his semifinal against Littler, in which he gave up the match despite a 9-6 lead.

The tournament also once again showed the strength of the new generation of darters. Luke Littler continues to amaze week after week, even though the final this time went to Van Gerwen. Josh Rock also proved his status as an emerging world champion, but lacked just that bit of killer instinct. "For how well Rock throws, he doesn't win much," Van der Voort concluded. "That's the difference with Michael: when he's good, he wins, too."

That perhaps makes Van Gerwen's victory extra special. Against the darters who embody the future, he showed that he still remains a factor of significance.

Afterwards, Van Gerwen was asked how it felt to be the first player this year to beat both Humphries and Littler on a big stage as well as win the tournament. His answer was "vintage" Van Gerwen: "Was I the first? I will also be the second and the third." Van der Voort was not surprised by this answer. "He is of the extremes. He can't answer cleanly then."

The question remains, however, whether Van Gerwen can maintain this level. Van der Voort tempered expectations: "This is one tournament, and that's fantastic. But he has to continue on this. After the Worlds we also said: he's back. And after that we didn't see much."