Michael van Gerwen refuses to accept his decline and sends warning to Luke Littler: "It doesn’t bother me"

Michael van Gerwen is determined to reclaim his place among the world’s elite. The three-time world champion is enduring a difficult season and has slipped to ninth in the world rankings. Yet the 37-year-old Dutchman has not lost faith in his own ability. Speaking to Sportnieuws.nl, he admits that his performances are currently below par, but warns his rivals that he remains capable of great things.

Van Gerwen’s standing in the darts world has changed considerably in recent years. The Brabander dominated the sport for years, winning one major title after another, but now he is increasingly forced to concede defeat to other players. This season, too, he has yet to consistently reach the level he once produced.

Van Gerwen accepts that he has to take responsibility. “If you look purely at form, I’m not one of the best players in the world right now,” he admits.

“As a top player, you have to perform consistently, and I’m not doing that at the moment,” he continues. “Everyone understands why I’m slipping in the rankings. Still, I feel I should be above many of the players currently ahead of me. It’s up to me to show that I still belong there.”

The way several matches have unfolded has been especially frustrating for the Dutchman. At the World Series of Darts Finals, he let a lead against Daryl Gurney slip away, while Ryan Joyce knocked him out of the World Grand Prix. Those defeats show how difficult ‘Mighty Mike’ is finding it to take control of matches at present.

“I often let myself down,” Van Gerwen says. “Partly, that’s down to my own shortcomings, but sometimes the opponent gets a bit of luck too. I’ve had to take a few blows. These defeats hurt, of course, but fortunately I can take a lot. I want to turn things around as soon as possible. It doesn’t always happen, though.”

The disappointing results have also come during a period in which Van Gerwen has faced difficulties away from the oche. His marriage to Daphne ended, and his father was diagnosed with cancer. The darts star has now received cautiously positive news about his father’s health. “Fortunately, he’s doing better. Let’s hope it stays that way.”

Balancing his professional career with his private life and caring for his children, Zoë and Mike, has also demanded a great deal of attention lately. Van Gerwen now seems to be gradually finding more balance.

Meanwhile, the former world No. 1 is also working on his technique. He is refining his throw with Vincent van der Voort, who has advised him for many years.

The changes are intended to help Van Gerwen reach his desired level more easily and consistently. The Dutchman says there are signs of progress, though he knows the process takes time.

“It’s all about fluidity. We want to make my throw a little smoother. Sometimes there’s a slight hitch in it, and I’m trying to iron that out. Everything takes time, but I can feel my level rising again.”

The pressure to produce results is mounting. Van Gerwen knows his performances are being closely watched and that every new defeat raises questions about his future among the very best. “When you’re a player of my calibre, you’re always on the chopping block. I know that.”

With the World Darts Championship in December approaching, Van Gerwen will soon have another chance to prove himself on the sport’s biggest stage. The Dutchman became world champion in 2014, 2017 and 2019, but has now been waiting more than seven years for a fourth world title.

Van Gerwen understands that he is not among the leading contenders this year. Even so, he refuses to rule himself out in advance. A potential clash with Luke Littler, who has emerged as one of the circuit’s dominant players in recent years, does not intimidate him either.

“The World Championship is the most important tournament for every darts player. I know full well that I’m not the favourite right now. But if I set my sights on something and things start to click, someone will have to play very well to beat me. That could be Luke Littler at his best, too. It doesn’t bother me. Darts can turn on a knife-edge. Sometimes things can change quickly. But I have to put in a lot of work myself: train hard and build my confidence. Then we’ll see what happens.”

For Van Gerwen, it is important that he has rediscovered his enjoyment of the sport. The Dutchman still wants to add to his impressive list of honours and sees a fourth world title as a goal he must continue to pursue. “I also think I have to do it. If I can’t achieve that any more, I’d be disappointed. I have to believe in myself.”

Although results have so far fallen short of his expectations, Van Gerwen is far from convinced that his best years are behind him. The coming months will show whether his technical adjustments and renewed enjoyment are enough to help him close the gap to the world’s elite.