Michael van Gerwen goes under the knife for third time after World Matchplay: "I can't bite through a slice of ham yet"

This Monday night the final exciting games of the first round at the 2024 World Matchplay are scheduled. One of the absolute crackers is the duel between Michael van Gerwen and Luke Littler.

This match is seen as arguably the tie of the first round. Regardless of the outcome however, Van Gerwen will go under the knife for a third time after the tournament as he endures another operation on his teeth, which he was operated on for the first time last year.

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Van Gerwen also had surgery in 2022. After the upcoming surgery on his teeth, he hopes not to have to go under the knife again for the time being. "They are going to break and re-set my upper and lower jaw. My upper jaw they are going to take out 6 millimeters forward and my lower jaw they are going to put back just 3 millimeters. I have a big underbite, a penny bowl, as they call it. That bothers me a lot, yes," he says in conversation with the AD. "Anyway with eating, but your teeth also wear down and you snore more because of it. Of everything. Whether I'm looking forward to it? Yes, but I'm also looking forward to it. I can't bite through a slice of ham yet. You get fed up with that at some point. After this, I hope to put a stop to all the physical ailments."

After this medical procedure, he will have to take it a little easier for a while. "I hope to be a long way from everything within four weeks. The plan is for me to play the Players Championships on August 21 and 22 again." However, he does not expect to suffer much during the darts themselves. "That's not too bad. It's more like discomfort. But it's just important to do the right thing for yourself. People are often short-sighted, but I have to think of the long-term goal. Unless you want to quit soon, but I'm 35 and I can last a while longer."

During the period when "Mighty Mike" needs to rest, he can spend a little more time with his family, which is not always possible due to his busy schedule. "I just need to get everything back together. The Premier League weeks have kicked in. The schedule is just killing me. That's why I spent a week in Las Vegas after the US Darts Masters, for example. You just need family time, because darts is all fun and games, but I haven't been much of a 'dad' in the last few months."

"Why do you think I went on vacation with the kids? The World Matchplay is one of the most important tournaments of the year and you have to perform there, especially after last year (Van Gerwen was eliminated in the first round directly by Brendan Dolan)," he concludes.