"I don't want to lose to anyone, especially not to Van Barneveld": Michael van Gerwen itching for Dutch bragging rights

Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld face each other Monday night in the first round of the World Matchplay 2025. On paper, this Dutch clash promises to be a real thriller.

'Mighty Mike' knows what he has to do. The three-time World Matchplay winner realizes he needs to show something, and that starts with a fraught match against compatriot and longtime rival Raymond van Barneveld in Blackpool. "It's time to show character," said the Brabander.

After a disappointing Premier League campaign in which he missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, Van Gerwen is searching for rhythm and form. Even though the year started strong with a final spot at the World Championship.

A boost followed in April with a win at the German Darts Grand Prix, although that title was overshadowed by a peculiar neck injury earlier that month as well as a personally difficult period: in May, Van Gerwen announced that he and his long-term partner Daphne Govers had separated.

Since then, the former world number one seems to be searching for himself. In June, he returned to the stage at the US Darts Masters, where he was stranded in the quarterfinals against Gerwyn Price. At the Poland Darts Masters earlier this month, however, things went wrong again in the same round, this time against Rob Cross.

Still, there are sounds of hope leading up to his match against Van Barneveld. "Last week I practised quite often," said 'MVG'. "I had a busy period at home, so I had to make sure to juggle here and there a little bit, but now I'm feeling good and I think that's the most important thing. I want to play and that's the start of success."

In Blackpool, the 36-year-old Dutchman appears not only with renewed motivation, but also with a new look: the iconic bright green jerseys have given way to a sleek black design, which he previously debuted with at the U.S. tournament as he said it 'didn't do the job anymore'.

Van Gerwen, who won the World Matchplay in 2015, 2016 and 2022, wants to focus on sporting success again, but also stresses the importance of well-being off the oche. "But you need to look to yourself, and you need to make sure you play by yourself, to make sure you're going to win that one.

"I didn't play a lot of tournaments recently. I want to know where I stand in practice. Things have gone quite well, to be fair, but practice doesn't mean anything," he said.

"I've been in top positions in my life before and now it's also time to show some character. How am I going to bounce back and things like that? But it's not a sprint, it's a marathon. We all know that."

The clash with Van Barneveld always brings something extra. The two best darters the Netherlands has ever produced have faced each other dozens of times. However, their paths have not crossed since January 2024, when Van Gerwen narrowly won 6-5. 'Barney' managed to win only two of the last 12 duels between them.

"Raymond has been on the circuit for a long time, and we all know what he's capable of," said Van Gerwen.

"It's a good match for me because no one has to motivate me against Raymond. That's one good thing. I don't want to lose to anyone, especially not to Raymond, it's as simple as that."