"He said it was broken, done": Michael van Gerwen set to keep new black shirt as green now in the past

After a month away from competitive action, Michael van Gerwen made his much-anticipated return at the US Darts Masters in New York—sporting a striking new look. The Dutchman ditched his iconic bright green shirt in favor of a sleek, predominantly black outfit accented with vivid green details.

Far from a one-off experiment, the change marks a significant shift, according to Van Gerwen’s close friend and former top professional Vincent van der Voort. “This is going to be his regular shirt for the foreseeable future,” Van der Voort revealed during the latest episode of the Darts Draait Door podcast. Having traveled to the United States alongside Van Gerwen, Van der Voort has had a front-row seat to the Dutchman’s recent transformation.

“That old shirt, according to him, just didn’t do the job anymore,” Van der Voort explained. “He said it was broken—done. This new look represents something bigger.”

The inspiration behind the fresh design reportedly dates back to the Masters earlier this year. “He wore a black shirt then as well and got a lot of compliments,” Van der Voort said. “So maybe that stuck with him. Plus, black is more slimming—and he’s lost quite a bit of weight, which helps. He really liked this design but made sure to keep those signature green accents.”

The result? A sharp, modern kit featuring green stripes along the shoulders, a green-trimmed collar, and a matching green logo emblazoned across the back. It's a bold update that Van Gerwen believes was long overdue.

“He said he hadn’t been performing in that old shirt, so it had to go,” Van der Voort added. “He’s working hard to get back in shape. We just need a bit of patience before he hits top form again—but hopefully not too much.”

In a light-hearted moment on the podcast, host Damian Vlottes teased Van der Voort: “You’ve been helping him for months, offering all this support—and now it turns out it was all because of the shirt?” Van der Voort, not missing a beat, replied with a laugh: “In the end, it’s all down to the shirt.”