No New Year's party for Van Gerwen in London: 'I have to make sure I'm fit and ready'

Michael van Gerwen will spend New Year's Eve for another year in London, where the PDC World Darts Championship is played. Although the Dutchman was almost already at home with his family in Vlijmen.

The world number one avoided elimination against Joe Cullen in the Last 16. Cullen had two chances on the bullseye to knock Van Gerwen out of the tournament. Mighty Mike survived and beat The Rockstar after a sudden-death leg.

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Even with a 3-1 deficit, the three-time world champion still had every faith that he could still turn the tide. "If you have doubts you cannot win. That does not happen to me. That is weakness, and you should not show weakness," he told the NOS.

It also shows that self-confidence has returned to Van Gerwen. After a few difficult months, the form came back just in time just before the World Championship. The 31-year-old Dutchman claimed the title at the Players Championship Finals, the last event before the PDC World Darts Championship.

"About six months ago I was not able to do that and now I have. I had to work hard to be here now, and I am very happy with that. If your confidence is not good, then you know that you have to work to turn that around. The best medicine against it is to win tournaments'', he said.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are all about his preparation for the World Championship Quarter-Final against Dave Chisnall, which will be played on Friday evening. So Van Gerwen has not many plans for New Year's Eve. "Not much, going to bed on time. I have to play on New Year's Day so I have to make sure I am fit and ready."

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