Nicholson sends warning to Van Gerwen’s rivals: “The small setbacks will not derail him, but will have the reverse effect”

Michael van Gerwen’s return to form has seen regular titles including the Premier League and World Matchplay and Paul Nicholson believes there are more to come.

Especially after defeat in two of the World Series tournaments, Nicholson believes Van Gerwen will return with a statement win going towards the end of the year.

“It is fair to say that Michael van Gerwen winning in Townsville was not a surprise, and there may have been a few people who thought he would then go on to win all three, but we live in a very different era to the earlier part of MVG’s title winning career,” said Nicholson to the PDC.

“However, for him to pick up another World Series title and to keep his season flowing in that sense is surely a reminder that with events he craves on the horizon, we have to consider that Michael will win more in the way of ranked majors and Euro Tours before the year is out.

“Just remember how much he enjoys European Tour and Grand Prix darts, and 2022 marks the ten-year anniversary since that famous first major win against Mervyn King in Dublin, so with that win, albeit just the one, it is enough to inflate Michael's confidence going into September.

“The small setbacks of Wollongong and Hamilton will not derail him in my eyes, but will actually have the reverse effect. Watch out!”