''Last few months I have too many ups and downs'' - Michael van Gerwen realistic after defeat against Luke Humphries in playoffs

Michael van Gerwen usually is a sure-fire bet for Premier League Darts play-offs success and usually leaves his best displays for The O2 (or subsequent finals night venues). But he went down hard to Luke Humphries in a pretty damning defeat.

Van Gerwen managed to take a 1-2 lead early in his match with a 103 finish, but then saw the match quickly go the way of the World Champion. Humphries took six legs in a row and eventually won 10-5.

The defeat did not come as a total surprise, Van Gerwen confessed afterwards. "It's not going wrong in this match, this is something from the past few months. I'm just not constant enough, not for months," Van Gerwen said in his interview on Viaplay.

"You see I am trying everything and trying my hardest. I also prepared very well for this match, but both during the game and in recent months I have too many ups and downs. That shouldn't happen, but it happens now."

So it was not to Van Gerwen's advantage that he faced an unleashed Humphries. "It makes a difference that I'm playing against the best dart player in the world. What he has shown in the last 12 months is of an unprecedented level. I want to get to a certain level myself, but there's really no question of that right now."

Ahead of the Premier League Darts playoffs, Van Gerwen decided to switch back to the arrows he used to win the 2020 UK Open. This switch did not have the desired result. "After last week I thought I could do a bit more. But the first dart didn't go well. Then it becomes searching, forcing and irritating. Then you start making mistakes and it becomes even harder to win. This is another tap on the chin. It hurts when you lose."

Despite missing out on the Premier League title, Van Gerwen does keep a hefty sum from his Premier League title. He will receive £85,000 for reaching the semifinals, topped by £40,000 in bonuses.