"If it doesn’t go well, he could see himself drop to the bottom of the top-16" – Michael van Gerwen at a crossroads in his career

Michael van Gerwen has been the face of Dutch and international darts for more than a decade. With his explosive game, relentless winner’s mentality, and a trophy cabinet most pros can only dream of, he has made himself immortal within the sport. Yet in recent months, more critical voices have been heard from the darts world.

On the latest episode of Sky Sports' Love the Darts podcast, two former pros and analysts, Matthew Edgar and Paul Nicholson, recently spoke strikingly candidly about Van Gerwen’s current situation. Their words paint the picture of a top player standing at a crossroads.

Edgar points mainly to the sporting and financial pressure Van Gerwen faces. According to him, the Dutchman has “a lot of prize money to defend.” That is no empty remark. Due to his years of dominance, Van Gerwen is under enormous pressure almost every season to protect his ranking points.

When results don’t come, it can have direct consequences for his position in the world rankings. Edgar goes a step further: “If it doesn’t go well, he could see himself drop to the bottom of the top-16.” A statement that would have been unthinkable a few years ago, but now sounds increasingly realistic.

At the moment, Van Gerwen is still the world number four, but Edgar stresses that the question is no longer whether he can climb. That is a harsh assessment for a player who for years was almost automatically in the hunt for the number one spot. The competition is stronger than ever, young players are knocking loudly at the door, and consistency is no longer a given.

An important point Edgar raises is the role of Vincent van der Voort. He believes Van Gerwen would do well to listen to his close friend and confidant. “I like to listen to Vincent, and he is very straight-shooting in what he says,” Edgar states. "He said about three months ago that Michael van Gerwen is going to come up to a crossroads soon. Either start applying himself or start looking at other things because people are going to overtake him. Now, he's world number four and the conversation isn't 'is he going to take any of the top-3 places back?' My concern is how far down the rankings does he go?"

Paul Nicholson emphatically agrees and even goes a step further in his analysis. The Australian highlights how big Van der Voort’s influence is on Van Gerwen as a person and as a player. “When Vincent is in the room or in the venue, Michael turns into a different animal,” Nicholson says. "Vincent is instrumental to the darting future of Michael. He always has been."

What Van Gerwen especially does not need, according to Nicholson, are so-called yes-men. People who gloss over everything and confirm what the player already thinks. Honest, sometimes harsh feedback is exactly what’s needed to keep performing at the highest level. In that respect, Van der Voort’s presence seems invaluable to Van Gerwen, both on and off the stage.

The remarks from Edgar and Nicholson are not an attack on Van Gerwen, but rather a wake-up call. They show how fine the line is between the absolute top and a sporting downturn, even for a player of his caliber. The coming period will show whether Van Gerwen picks up the signals, continues to embrace the right people, and can reinvent himself. One thing is clear: no one doubts his class, but success is no longer a given.