“It’s a no-brainer” - Former world champion insists Michael van Gerwen still deserves Premier League place despite rankings slide

Mark Webster has voiced his concern over Michael van Gerwen’s current form. The former world champion believes the Dutchman is finding it increasingly difficult to win matches and fears that a return to his old level could prove a lengthy process. Webster is far less concerned about Luke Littler’s recent setbacks, however, believing too much is being made of a few defeats for the 19-year-old Englishman.

In an extensive interview with Online Darts, Webster discussed the situation surrounding both leading players. It is Van Gerwen’s performances in particular that concern him, with the three-time world champion struggling for form while his position in the world rankings also comes under increasing pressure.

Webster has known Van Gerwen for years and has plenty of sympathy for the Dutchman. That makes his current struggles particularly difficult to watch. “I’m concerned. I like Michael, I really like him. I came into the sport around about the same time as him and we got on really well. I felt really sorry for him when he lost against Ryan Joyce the other night.”

According to Webster, Van Gerwen’s finishing and his play at the decisive end of legs have become particular problems. Where he once regularly produced important finishes under pressure, that confidence is currently missing. “He looks a bit edgy on finishes at the back end of legs. I’m talking about those two-dart combinations above 60. You never really fancy him to get them at the minute.”

The Welshman believes Van Gerwen himself will have to take the initiative if he is to emerge from this difficult spell. “He’s just got to put in the hard work. He’ll say the right things. He’s a good guy. He won’t just laugh this off and he’ll take this seriously. I’m sure he’ll put in some hours to try and get back up there.”

An important topic during the interview was Van Gerwen’s changed throw. The Dutchman has struggled to get his wrist into the same position as before, while the way his darts now travel through the air was also discussed.

Webster did not pretend to be a technical specialist, but acknowledged that the difference from Van Gerwen’s previous throw is clear. “Technically I’m not great, but it is completely different. We’ve seen the footage. But I think that’s his throw now, so at some point Michael’s going to have to make this work.”

The former world champion knows from his own experience how difficult technical problems can be to solve. Webster also encountered issues with his throw during his own career. “I’ve had technical issues and you’ve just got to run with what happens and try and make it work. It didn’t work out for me, and I really struggle playing any sort of competitive darts now.”

Even so, Webster does not expect Van Gerwen to suffer the same fate. “I do think he’s going to make some sort of resurgence. Whether he gets back to the old Michael is a big question, but I think he’s got to look comfortable. At times, he looks a bit nervous.”

Webster also pointed towards everything Van Gerwen has been through away from the oche over recent years, believing that wider context should not be ignored. “There’s a lot gone on obviously over the last few years as well, so you’ve got to take that into account.”

Despite his concerns, Webster remains firmly behind the Dutchman. “I’m behind him. I hope he comes back. I think with Michael fired up, it’s good to have him on that stage. I think he’ll have some decent runs. The performance level now is concerning.”

Van Gerwen’s disappointing results have left him in danger of sliding further down the rankings. During the interview, his provisional position of 19th in the Tour Card race was raised.

That also creates questions around his place in the 2027 Premier League Darts. Although Van Gerwen is currently not producing the kind of results normally associated with a Premier League player, Webster believes his past contribution still earns him a place.

“Look at what he’s done in the sport, he’s earned this, hasn’t he? If he continues to be 19th in the world year after year, then they’ll have to ask questions. But for me, it’s a no-brainer. He goes in this year.”

According to Webster, Van Gerwen deserves that faith because he spent years as one of the sport’s defining figures. “You show a bit of faith in him because he’s obviously done a lot for the sport. He was the world number one. He sort of carried the sport for a while.”

Webster also highlighted the responsibilities that came with that position. “With that comes a lot of media attention, a lot of media work you have to do. He does that. For me, he’s got to be in the Premier League and I hope he makes an impact.”

The Welshman accepts that such a selection could generate discussion among other players who have enjoyed stronger seasons. “Of course they will. That comes every year. There’ll be two, three, four that’ll think they should have been picked.”

Nevertheless, Webster has little doubt about Van Gerwen’s place. “He’s going to be in it. Simple as that. Unless he declines it, he will be picked, and rightly so.”

Webster also believes that weekly Premier League competition could help Van Gerwen rediscover some of what has been missing. “I think he needs that week-in, week-out competition.”

“It’s going to be a challenging time for Michael, but it might take him back to sort of when he was hungry, when he first started trying to break through and get that hunger, that grit between his teeth. You never know. It’ll be interesting to see how he reacts.”

Where Webster is concerned about Van Gerwen, he sees far less reason for panic surrounding Luke Littler. The young Englishman has faced disappointing results recently, alongside criticism and negative reactions from sections of the crowd.

According to Webster, the attention surrounding it has become disproportionate. “It definitely has, hasn’t it? A lot was made of the booing and stuff. I don’t think Luke needed that attention. Obviously, he was a bit annoyed, but it should have just been dusted over. It happens to every player.”

The former world champion believes Littler’s recent defeats need to be kept in perspective. “For me, he’s just lost a few games. It’s as simple as that. He’s going to come back stronger at the end of the year. I’m sure he’ll put the practice in. He’s a human being. He’s 19 years old. He’s just lost a few games.”

Littler had previously spoken about trying to complete a clean sweep of the major televised titles in a single calendar year. That ambition came under pressure following his defeat in Amsterdam and his subsequent disappointment in Leicester.

Webster believes it was always going to be an exceptionally difficult task. “It was going to be really hard. Look, he’s a winner. You want to win everything you’re playing. But it was going to be tough to win them all, wasn’t it?”

According to Webster, Littler can now turn his attention towards the European Championship, one of the major titles still missing from his collection. “He’s got time now to turn his attention to the European Championship. That’s really important because then he’s won everything, hasn’t he?”

Webster believes that makes the tournament particularly significant for Littler. “That’s bigger than, I’d say, the Grand Slam and the Players Championship Finals for him.”

The World Championship naturally remains the biggest prize of all, but Webster expects the European Championship to become Littler’s immediate focus. “Obviously, the Worlds is the one. We always go to that one. But I think that one will be his immediate priority, and it happens to be the next major event as well.”

The Welshman also stressed that despite Littler’s extraordinary achievements, he remains a young player developing both professionally and personally. “When I was 19, I was a bit petulant. You threw your arms, you get a bit stroppy, and I wasn’t even playing high-level darts at that time.”

For Webster, learning to deal with disappointment and the scrutiny that accompanies his status is simply another part of Littler’s development. “He’s learning as a person. He’s growing as a person.”

Webster believes the reaction has been magnified simply because Littler is at the centre of it. “It’s probably been taken out of proportion because it’s him being given so much airtime. He probably didn’t want it to have all this airtime.”

Crowd behaviour was another subject raised during the interview. Littler has recently been subjected to booing, but Webster does not see it as a new phenomenon.

Players including Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis have all faced hostile crowds at different venues during their careers. “Everybody cops it, isn’t it? You take things to heart more when you’re young, but he’s got to try and deal with that. He’ll be fine.”

Webster does, however, draw a distinction between booing and whistling while a player is actually throwing. “I think booing is going to continue in the sport. I think they’re doing their best to try and get rid of the whistling, which is annoying, but the booing will carry on happening.”

“It is part of the sport. The fans have their favourites, they have their villains, and it’ll continue to be that way.”

The recent events also led to speculation over Littler’s future and whether the pressure surrounding him could eventually prompt him to walk away from darts.

Webster sees little reason to believe that will happen. “No, no. Look, it’s media talk. He will say things in the heat of the moment maybe that he’s a bit down, not enjoying the game at the minute. There’s going to be more spells like that. Every player goes through that.”

The Welshman expects Littler to remain in the sport for a long time. “It’s all he knows, isn’t it? He’s a darts player. Okay, he’s a celebrity, but darts got him there and darts is what he does best. I think he’ll play for a long time.”

Nor does the early defeat to Luke Woodhouse significantly change Webster’s outlook. “Disappointing the way he played against Luke Woodhouse here. These games happen. It will happen to him again. As good as he is, it will happen to him again. You’ve just got to bounce back and, like I said, I think he’ll have a strong end to the year.”