"Gary's said so much crap in his life, he retires every year": Michael van Gerwen laughs off Gary Anderson ambition to play until 60

Michael van Gerwen booked his place in the last 16 of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship with another composed performance at Alexandra Palace, admitting he is beginning to feel sharper — even if he insists there is still more to come.

The three-time world champion produced an average just shy of 100 and hit 50 per cent of his doubles as he continued to build momentum after Christmas, describing his display as “decent” while acknowledging his own high standards. “I think overall I put in a decent performance,” van Gerwen said post match. “In patches I played some really good darts, and with that in your mind, you know you’re capable of doing more.”

Van Gerwen has now delivered two solid performances back-to-back, something he has openly admitted has been a challenge at times over the past 18 months. While he resisted suggestions that he is fully back to his devastating best, he believes the signs are encouraging. “Growing is a big word,” he explained. “But you have to do it in the moments when you have to do it, and I think that’s exactly what I’m doing.”

Asked to rate his performance out of ten, the Dutchman settled on an eight. “When I had to play well, I did,” he said. “But I still knew I had more in my power. I didn’t have to deliver it, so I didn’t, that’s the way darts is sometimes.”

Van Gerwen’s reward is a blockbuster last-16 clash against Gary Anderson, a match-up that has produced some of the most memorable contests in World Championship history. With Anderson rolling back the years and averaging well over the ton in recent rounds, van Gerwen is braced for another classic. “I expect a lot from that game because Gary’s playing some fantastic darts,” he said. “Everyone’s saying the old Gary is back. He’s averaging 102–103, I’m averaging about 99–100, so I think that’s a good sign for me. When you play Gary, there’s always room for fireworks. We always play good against each other, most of the time at least.”

Van Gerwen believes their long history is what makes the rivalry so compelling. “The first time I played Gary was probably 22 or 23 years ago,” he said. “We know exactly what we have to do to beat each other. We’ve had so many great battles, and I hope we’re going to have another one in two days’ time.”

Despite the pressure of the tournament, van Gerwen insists matches like this are why he still loves the sport. “If I can’t enjoy games like this anymore, that’s the day I’m going to retire, that’s the promise.”

Van Gerwen has spoken candidly throughout the year about his struggles with consistency, but he believes recent improvements to his throw and overall balance are beginning to show. “The last 18 months weren’t the easiest of my life,” he admitted. “You need to adjust yourself sometimes. You’re not going to lose your talent, but you need to find it back, keep battling and keep trying to improve.”

He also stressed the importance of focus, particularly with so many high seeds already eliminated. “You need to make sure you keep your own momentum going,” he said. “Otherwise you’re going to make mistakes yourself.”

Experience, he believes, is one of his greatest assets when it comes to handling pressure. “I played my first World Championship before Luke Littler was born,” van Gerwen said. “People underestimate things like that, but experience helps a lot.”

Van Gerwen was also asked about Anderson’s suggestion that he could continue playing until the age of 60. “Gary’s said so much crap in his life, I don’t believe him anymore,” he laughed. “He retires every year.”

Despite the joke, his respect for the Scot was clear. “To have Gary Anderson on tour is always a pleasure,” he added. “He’s good for darts. The way he plays — he’s a phenomenal darts player.”

Now competing in his 19th consecutive World Championship, van Gerwen says his longevity comes down to one simple thing. “I love the game,” he said. “If you don’t love it anymore, there’s no room for improvement. As long as I keep loving it and playing well, I’ll be here.”

He also addressed his noticeable weight loss, attributing it to lifestyle changes and the demands of an increasingly busy calendar. “When you’re overweight, you need to do something about it,” he said. “There are more tournaments now, so it’s important to try to get as healthy as possible.”

With the tournament entering its decisive stages, van Gerwen believes his campaign truly begins now. “Games against players like Gary Anderson are what you want,” he said. “If you win games like this, it gives you confidence for the next rounds — but first you need to focus on this one.”