“He looked hungry, sure, but you could tell he’s still dealing with a lot" - Van der Voort looks back on Van Gerwen's comeback in New York

After a challenging spell away from the game, Michael van Gerwen made his return to the international darts stage last weekend at the US Darts Masters in New York. It marked the Dutchman’s first appearance since his high-profile separation from long-time partner Daphne — and, for many fans, the first glimpse of a player still finding his feet both on and off the oche.

Travelling with him was close friend and confidant Vincent van der Voort, who offered a candid insight into Van Gerwen’s mindset and form during the comeback. “When he’s warming up, you still see those flashes—shots that are just absurdly good,” Van der Voort said in Sportnieuws.nl's podcast Darts Draait Door. “But once he’s up on the stage, the uncertainty is clear. You can see the talent’s still in there, but this isn’t something that will just click back into place. He’s got a lot on his mind.”

Van der Voort made it clear that Van Gerwen is still a long way from his peak, both mentally and competitively. “There’s a lot of emotion behind it all. He’ll need serious hours on the practice board to get back to full match sharpness. The ProTour will help, but he’s not back playing those until the end of August.”

That absence from the ProTour is already having an impact on Van Gerwen’s ranking. While his spot at the World Matchplay is already secure, his qualification for the Players Championship Finals is now in real doubt. Podcast host Damian Vlottes noted, “He’s really going to be cutting it close.”

Van Gerwen himself has reportedly downplayed the importance of potentially missing the event — something Van der Voort takes issue with. “I told him straight—you can’t say things like that. He needs to be there. That’s not a tournament you just skip.”

On the stage in New York, Van Gerwen showed glimpses of his old self, but consistency was lacking. “I wasn’t blown away,” Van der Voort admitted. “He looked hungry, sure, but you could tell he’s still dealing with a lot. The uncertainty is playing its part.”

Despite the shaky form, Van Gerwen managed to get past Leonard Gates in his opening match, before breaking down in an emotional release after the win. “Everything came pouring out — relief, sadness, joy. The normal routines around his matches are gone now. He used to be in touch with his wife before and after matches. That emotional anchor isn’t there anymore.”

Following the victory, Van Gerwen, in agreement with the PDC, skipped all media duties and a planned appearance with the New York Mets. A day later, his campaign ended in a flat quarter-final defeat to Gerwyn Price. “You could see it — he wanted it too much. He was forcing it, and the performance just wasn’t there,” Van der Voort said. “That’s where he’s at right now. He’s still got a long road ahead.”

That journey continues this weekend with another event in Poland — an important stepping stone, with the World Matchplay now looming large. “He needs to be ready,” Van der Voort concluded. “That’s where it really matters.”