Michael van Gerwen's title droughts under the microscope: from 284 to 728 days of waiting

Michael van Gerwen undoubtedly ranks among the greatest darters of all time. Since his breakthrough in 2012, the Dutchman has won countless majors, often with impressive dominance. Yet even a player of his caliber has periods in which he fails to win a major title. The numbers show that Van Gerwen occasionally experiences longer droughts, but always gets back up and makes his mark on the circuit.

Van Gerwen experienced the most remarkable period without a PDC major title recently. There were no less than 728 days between his win at the 2023 World Series of Darts Finals and his triumph at the 2025 World Series of Darts Finals. During that period, "Mighty Mike" regularly showed good play, but often stalled at crucial moments or encountered an opponent in top form.

It shows how cutthroat the competition is now at the highest level, with players such as Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price and Luke Littler increasingly taking the lead. Yet Van Gerwen proved again in 2025 that, even after a prolonged dip, he is still capable of winning major finals.

Another longer title break was visible between the 2020 Players Championship Finals and the 2022 Premier League Darts: a gap of 561 days. This period largely coincided with the corona pandemic, during which tournaments were organized differently and many players had to regain their rhythm.

For Van Gerwen, known for his intensive tournament schedule and match rhythm, this was not an ideal situation. Yet he recovered handsomely in 2022 by winning the prestigious Premier League Darts, showing he still belongs to the absolute top.

The third longest title break dates back to the early years of his career. After his first world title in 2014, Van Gerwen had to wait 284 days for his next PDC major success, the World Grand Prix that same year.

Although that gap seems considerably smaller compared to later periods, it was a test for the young Dutchman at the time. He had the tough task of proving that his world title was no fluke, and succeeded brilliantly.

The numbers show that even the greatest champions are not immune to down periods. Where other players might sink after a prolonged drought, Van Gerwen keeps coming back - often stronger than before. His ability to recharge each time and win titles after a difficult phase is perhaps why he is counted among the very best. For the darts fan, it remains fascinating to watch Van Gerwen fight his way back to the top time and time again, no matter how long the break.