"I’m better than most players on the Tour, I just need to prove it again": Michael van Gerwen far from finished despite form woes

Michael van Gerwen remains one of the defining figures in international darts, but the era of his unrelenting dominance appears to have passed. In an open and insightful conversation with former top player and current analyst Erik Clarys, the three-time world champion looks back on his glittering career—and forward to the challenges still ahead.

The exchange between Clarys and Van Gerwen is marked by mutual respect. Clarys recalls recognizing Van Gerwen’s prodigious talent at a young age. “I’ve been playing darts for over 20 years at a high level. I grew up with it,” Van Gerwen tells HLN.be, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. From early on, it was clear he stood apart. “You have to be born with talent. Sure, you can train and work hard, but I noticed quite quickly that I was better than the other kids my age.”

That innate ability was matched by an unshakable focus. Birthdays, family gatherings—none of it held his attention like the dartboard did. “As a kid? I didn’t want to go to my uncle’s birthday,” he laughs. “I just wanted to play darts.”

That obsession yielded countless titles, but also came with the unrelenting pressure to perform. “Darts is all about confidence, you know that,” Van Gerwen says to Clarys. “Talent and hours of practice matter, but confidence is what wins matches. It makes you feel invincible.” Is that feeling still there? “Sometimes, yes. A few weeks ago I was playing really well, and it started to come back. But I need to feel that much more consistently.”

Today, the hunger remains—but it's different. “The drive is a bit less than before. But I enjoy it more now. I’ve already accomplished so much, and that changes the way I experience things.” The packed calendar and constant travel don’t deter him. “I still love darts. That’s probably my biggest motivation. Sure, there are times when I think, Do I really have to go to another floor tournament in Barnsley? But once I’m there…”

And when the lights go up and he steps on stage? Everything shifts. “It’s like a footballer getting on the team bus in Eindhoven for a trip to Groningen—nothing exciting. But once they step onto the pitch and roll up their sleeves, the adrenaline hits.”

Clarys observes how the competition has intensified, with more players consistently averaging around 100. Van Gerwen agrees. “You have to keep up. And I don’t do that often enough, given what I’m capable of. Even when I throw poorly, I shouldn't drop below a 90 average. The gap shouldn’t be that wide. You can’t just think it’ll be okay. No I’m a fighter. I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”

As for retirement? That’s not on the radar. In fact, Van Gerwen is doubling down. “I’ve just signed a new deal with Winmau through 2035. I’m committed to going full throttle for at least another ten years. I’m still young, and I know there’s plenty left in the tank. I’m better than most players on the Tour—I just need to prove it again, more often.”

Naturally, the conversation turns to the sport’s latest sensation: Luke Littler. Van Gerwen is impressed, but cautious. “He’s a phenomenon, no doubt. But I find it surprising that he already shows some reluctance about going to tournaments. That would’ve been unthinkable for me at his age.”

Will Littler eventually burn out? Van Gerwen doesn’t think so. “No, he’s too talented for that. He’s not a flash in the pan. But even though he throws brilliantly in the Premier League, he still loses early on the Pro Tour sometimes. Maybe that frustrates him, but you can’t see it. Me? The steam would be coming out of my ears!”

While the financial rewards might tempt some players to bow out early, Van Gerwen takes a different view. “That’s possible. Everyone has to make their own choices. Money matters, of course, and I earn a good living. But I still love playing darts.”

And the increasing number of defeats to names like Littler or Humphries? Van Gerwen is unfazed. “I don’t see it that way. I don’t mind if others do—I’m a big boy. If you can dish it out, you have to be able to take it. The key is staying sharp myself.”

With the ever-expanding darts calendar, rivalries have lost some of their rarity—and perhaps some of their sparkle. “It happens too often now. Back in the day, you’d really look forward to, say, Van Gerwen vs Taylor. Now, if someone tells me I’ve lost to someone four times in a row?” He shrugs. “There are thirty more matches coming up this year. You get it?”