"It's tough now because if you give the other players a finger they'll take your hand" - Michael van Gerwen offers to help Vincent van der Voort recover his form

With Michael van Gerwen currently in the midst of his quest to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy for a fourth time, the Dutchman is set to face Richard Veenstra in round 3.

After the World Darts Championship at Ally Pally concludes however, van Gerwen has already eyed up his plans for a January holiday with the family. "You have to have some peace in your mind sometimes and spend some time with your family," he explains. "Especially during the World Championships, the pressure and the intensity is so big, you need to relax a bit. With the Premier League coming so close afterwards, you need to make sure you do the right things for yourself too."

Van Gerwen produced arguably the most impressive World Championship win of all time in 2017, firing in record-breaking averages in some unstoppable performances. "It's getting close. The way I've been playing, I think it's coming and it's coming at the right time," van Gerwen says of that level. "Hopefully I can show it in the World Championships."

Van Gerwen's good friend Vincent van der Voort failed to qualify for the Alexandra Palace this year and the Dutchman looks like having a real battle on his hands to keep his Tour Card at the end of next year if his levels don't improve. However, 'The Dutch Destroyer' can count on van Gerwen's help and support whenever he needs it.

"You have to stand by each other. We are good mates, we speak about everything so you have to stand side by side in the good times and the bad times, that's how it is," van Gerwen says. "If I can help him with anything, of course, I will always do it. But now for him, I think it's the point where he can have a few weeks break, get his cleared and ask himself 'Do I still want to do this? Am I going to fully focus myself to give everything?' It's tough now because if you give the other players a finger they'll take your hand. I've seen it myself. Nothing is easy anymore."

"He doesn't want to give up. That's my opinion. I think he should definitely go for it, clear his mind," concludes 'Mighty Mike'. "But after so many years of World Championships for him, it's hard to not be in one now. That's a little bit of a sore point but it's also the reality. He has to deal with that."