"I don’t see him being the kind of player who hangs around as world number 21" - Chris Mason concerned about Michael van Gerwen's long-term involvement in darts

Michael van Gerwen is under huge threat of falling in the rankings. The three-time world champion has a lot of money to defend, including the earnings collected from the PDC World Darts Championship final two years ago, and is threatened to drop outside the top 20 in the world. Chris Mason raises an alarming theory on whether van Gerwen would want to continue playing at that level.

Mason was quick to praise the 'Green Machine' after what had been a fruitful career in the sport where he dominated over a period of years, becoming one of the greats in the process. "He’s been a fabulous servant to our sport," he told Online Darts. "He carried darts after Phil Taylor — not necessarily to a different level, but he carried it. We needed someone to take over, and Michael did that unbelievably well."

Knowing him from a young age, Mason knew there was something special in him. "I remember him when he was 15 years old. He’s carried the weight of being 'the governor' for a long time, from a very young age."

As he grew older, more pressure grew on him not just on the oche, but in his personal life. "I don’t mind him having some time for himself and his kids, especially after what he’s been through with his marriage. He’s entitled to step away for a bit.

"The beauty for him is he’s still young for a darts player. It’s not like he’s in his late 40s. Sometimes these young players don’t get to be young and enjoy their wealth and superstardom. I did that myself — without the wealth or superstardom — and I wasted the rest. Right now Michael isn’t the force he once was, but that doesn’t take away what he’s done for the sport."

For the time being, the pressure is on the shoulders of someone else. "Now that pressure is on Luke Littler’s shoulders, and he doesn’t seem to have a care in the world, which is fabulous."

Van Gerwen has a lot of money to defend from major events throughout the year, and to be frank the performances and consistency shown on stage so not showcase someone who is going to be regularly challenging and winning the biggest titles the sport has to offer.

A new position for him lower in the rankings could become a possibility, something Mason does not think he will react well to.

"We had the same conversation about Peter Wright and several others," he admitted. "No, I think Michael has too much pride. I don’t think he’d want to be the guy who just produces the odd good performance now and again."

Whether he wants to work on his game and get to the upper echelon's of the sport once more for someone who has won everything concerns Mason. "I’m not sure whether he’s prepared to rediscover that hunger. It’s like Marvin Hagler talking about 6am runs. Michael is wealthy enough now that he doesn’t have to do it. But listen, he’s done enough already. He can do whatever he wants and I wish him all the best."

There will be a time in van Gerwen's career, sooner or later, that he will inevitably put down his darts and bow out of the sport. Mason begrudgingly consoles to that fact. "I do think there’ll be a moment where he says: What am I doing? How am I world number 20? How am I losing to players who, predominantly, shouldn’t lace my boots? But that happens. Nothing lasts forever. Either way, he’s been incredible."

The young talent emerging in the sport currently is a sight to behold. Led by world number one Luke Littler, many talented darters are breaking through into the sport and challenging the big guns.

"These young players live and breathe the sport, and to get back to the top you’ve got to live, breathe and work hard," Mason commented. "There are two types of players. You get players like Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor who, even after making it, never felt like they’d “made it”. Then you get players who win a Tour Card and suddenly think they’re pros."

He emphasised how not a lot of players put that same work ethic in, using van Gerwen as a prime example, carried by his immense talent. "With Michael, though, it just shows how talented he is. Even though his throw has broken down and his wrist action looks terrible compared to before, he can still go up there and produce massive averages."

He concluded by suggesting that if he does fall down the order, he may not be willing to continue. "But I don’t see him being the kind of player who hangs around as world number 21, losing early every week. He’s got too much pride for that."