"I’m not completely fit yet, but fit enough": Van Gerwen still not 100% but set for Premier League Darts comeback on Thursday
PDCWednesday, 25 February 2026 at 06:00
Michael van Gerwen makes his return to the Premier League Darts on Thursday. The Dutchman will be back on the oche in Belfast after being forced to skip multiple tournaments over the past week.
The three-time world champion had been dealing with health issues and therefore missed not only the Premier League night in Glasgow, but also the Poland Darts Open and two Players Championships in Leicester. Van Gerwen does not wish to disclose exactly what was troubling him.
“I’m feeling much better, but I was really poorly,” Van Gerwen told AD.nl. “I’ll be there on Thursday. Tomorrow I’m flying to Northern Ireland. I’m not completely fit yet, but fit enough.”
The 36-year-old thereby interrupted a strong start to the season. Van Gerwen began his year by winning the Bahrain Darts Masters, one of the World Series events. ‘Mighty Mike’ then reached the final of the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, but had to concede defeat there to Luke Littler.
Great start to Premier League to illness
In the opening week of the Premier League in Newcastle he immediately took the nightly win by beating Gian van Veen in the final. A week later he again made the final in Antwerp, but Gerwyn Price proved too strong.
It is Price who awaits as his first opponent in Belfast on Thursday. For Van Gerwen, it offers a direct chance to rejoin the battle for top spot. Until his absence in Glasgow, he was leading the table.
The main question is how sharp he will be after a spell without match rhythm. Van Gerwen has not played an official match since Antwerp. Still, there is confidence in his words. The physical issues seem under control, although he admits he is not fully recovered yet.
Belfast will show whether “fit enough” is sufficient to mount another push for the nightly win and reinforce his position near the top of the Premier League.
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- Not Noppy. Get Beau in.medinabello25-02-2026
- If I was noppert,I'd say,sod you lot. You don't think I'm good enough,but suddenly,I can be a replacement? What a load of rubbish. Either you're in,or not. I keep saying,it's a pointless league,just to get people on seats,and beer down their necks. Scrap the whole thingrick6724-02-2026
- Exactly! Did the Glasgow punters get a partial refund for missing out on a potentially explosive match up? I don't know but I doubt it. Given the existing set up, how about this? Four reserves, one European based player to cover the four overseas rounds (including Dublin) and three UK based players to cover four UK rounds each (including Belfast). If the number of continental rounds changed to four for instance then Dublin could be transferred to the UK players allocation for convenience. All reserves should have their travel and accommodation costs covered and to make it worth their while, if they are not used, the reserve could play a match with a LOCAL non tour card holding player between the semi finals and final. This local player would be chosen by a prior qualifying tournament. The prize for this game could be £/euros 1000 or 2000 as the reserve could be spending his time and effort doing an exhibition instead not that I know what the commercial rate for an exhibition is! If the reserve is used in the main competition then the winner and the runner up of the qualifier can play. This could generate additional local interest and publicity. Obviously this doesn't cover every "what if" scenario i.e. What if two main players pull out? Maybe a second of the four reserves could be chosen at random? What do you think?OldShakey23-02-2026
- what a load of crocmedinabello19-02-2026
- So,it's a rubbish league,waste of time. Just put 8000 people in a building every Thursday,get them all drunk,and wonder why it's a complete joke. And forget every other player apart from 8. It's a ridiculous,inane,and needless so called competition.rick6718-02-2026
- Sorry,I've never been a professional darts player,but obviously from your comment,you have. So, going to your reply, you're blaming the management,not the player? So in that respect,he should get a different manager? That's basically all your comment is saying. Don't let him do money makers,which Barney said is easy money, instead of tournaments? Shake hands instead of trophies? Well I guess the manager knows best,as he has a big cut!rick6716-02-2026
- Sorry Mr rick67, erm what punditry credentials do you have to comment on a pundit? There's a reason why many top professionals have management teams. They know how to manage schedules etc so the players can just play. And how is Edgar wrong? Last year MVG failed to qualify by missing too many tournaments and underperforming. He's repeating the error this year so Edgar is right In calling this out.BandB15-02-2026
- Just get of Mardle,I didn't pay to watch him,and I don't want him for free! Let's see,how many world champions,either code,did you win? None! Now mason does it more as a player who was a floor player than you were putting pineapple on your shirt. Mardle,just go,you over inflated ego may follow. Tell you what,get on the seniors tour,and show everyone how good you weren'trick6715-02-2026
- Sorry Mr Edgar,erm what have you actually won to comment? Mvg has had his issues,but you have won a grand total of what? I make that nothing. So how can your comment be justified? Let him do what he likes,you do what you like, and we'll see what you win nextrick6715-02-2026
- Seems to be having a moan for no reason and using “Do-Gooder” as an insult makes no sense. It literally means someone who does good things!Wonker12-02-2026
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