Michael van Gerwen has confirmed he will not be representing the Netherlands at this year’s World Cup of Darts. The three-time World Cup champion, who previously lifted the title alongside Raymond van Barneveld, has opted out of the pairs tournament, which typically features the two highest-ranked Tour Card holders from each nation.
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Van Gerwen’s decision came as a surprise to many within the darts community, though not to close friend Vincent van der Voort. “I already knew back in December—his holiday was booked by then,” Van der Voort said with a laugh on the Darts Draait Door podcast. “I think he’ll be on a very big boat near Ibiza around that time. It’s all very inconvenient, of course.”
Podcast host Damian Vlottes chimed in: “If the choice is between that or the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt, I think I’d know what to pick.”
Michael van Gerwen in action
With Van Gerwen absent, Gian van Veen—currently the next highest-ranked Dutch player after Van Gerwen and Danny Noppert—is expected to step into the Dutch lineup. Van der Voort expressed his understanding of Van Gerwen’s decision to prioritize rest and long-term performance.
“Playing for your country is a great honour, but let’s be honest, the World Cup of Darts was somewhat forced into the calendar,” said Van der Voort. “We looked at the schedule, and Michael wants to be at his best in the autumn. That means something has to give. He wants to be fresh for the second half of the year, which is why his holiday falls during the World Cup. It’s a matter of making choices.”
Van Gerwen’s absence from Frankfurt isn’t the only event he’ll miss this year. “He’s also skipping the World Series events in Australia—again, due to his vacation plans,” Van der Voort added. “The World Cup just has a lower priority at the moment. Maybe he’ll return to it next year.”
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
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