“People were already talking – ‘Is Michael going out?’”: Van Gerwen silences doubters with statement Anderson win in Wolverhampton

Michael van Gerwen silenced the doubters in trademark fashion at the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts, producing a vintage 108.45 average to storm past Gary Anderson 5–2 and clinch top spot in Group G.

The three-time Grand Slam champion had come under rare pressure heading into Tuesday night’s decider, having scraped past Beau Greaves in a last-leg thriller before suffering a shock defeat to Germany’s Niko Springer. But when the stakes were highest, the Dutchman delivered a reminder of exactly why he remains one of the sport’s most formidable forces.

“Yesterday people were already talking – ‘Is Michael going out as well?’ – and now I’m top of the table. That’s how quickly things in darts can change,” Van Gerwen said afterwards. “I played a really good game under huge pressure.”

Anderson, chasing an 18th consecutive progression from the Grand Slam group stage, was simply blown away. Van Gerwen opened with a 13-darter, punished missed doubles to grab an early break, and never looked back.

The Scot briefly levelled but was swiftly punished again as van Gerwen clinically took out 84 in two darts to restore his advantage. Anderson’s best chance to fight back came when he narrowly missed the bull for a 170 checkout, but his old rival made him pay immediately with a clean double 14 for 4–1.

Van Gerwen’s scoring power was relentless — three 180s, eleven tons and a checkout percentage of almost 42% told the story of a player locked in. Two missed match darts allowed Anderson to cling on for one more leg, but the Dutchman sealed the deal moments later, finishing top of Group G as Anderson suffered his first-ever group stage exit in 18 Grand Slam appearances.

“You always try to do the best for yourself, and I want to do that all the time,” van Gerwen said. “I know I can because I’ve shown it many times before, but it’s not as easy as everyone thinks.”

The performance carried an extra edge given the opponent. Van Gerwen has shared some of the sport’s greatest battles with Anderson over the past decade, but there was no sign of sentiment.

“Gary’s a player with a huge amount of talent and class,” he said. “To beat him 5–2 gives me a lot of confidence and joy. But we’re not done yet – there’s still a long way to go if I want to do well in this tournament.”

He was quick to bat away any talk of revenge or rivalry. “What happened in the past is in the past. You always have to look to the future. The most important thing tonight was to win and get through,” he added. “I also knew if I won 5–2 or 5–3, I’d be top of the group, so I’m glad I did that. But topping the group doesn’t mean anything yet – I haven’t won anything.”

For all the fireworks, van Gerwen’s composure was just as striking. His rhythm looked effortless, his throw smooth and assured – a far cry from the nervy displays of the opening two nights.

“You can’t just copy and paste a 108 average,” he laughed. “You have to find the right balance and the right mentality for every game. I feel good, I feel comfortable, and I think I showed that tonight.”

That confidence was clear in the key moments, particularly his 84 finish in the fourth leg when Anderson threatened to swing momentum. “It was a must-take finish,” van Gerwen admitted. “But when you’re feeling good and into the game, you know you’ll create chances for yourself. Whether it’s double 12, double six or bullseye – it has to go in. Simple as that.”

Next up is a second-round clash with fellow Dutchman Danny Noppert, who has been in strong form himself. Van Gerwen, however, was in no mood to play down his own status.

“I love playing Danny. He’s a fantastic player and he’s been doing really well lately,” he said. “But if you look at it from my perspective, I’m the better player. Still, I can say whatever I want – I have to prove it on stage Thursday.”

Having battled through a brutal group that included Anderson, Springer and Greaves, van Gerwen believes the challenge has sharpened him rather than worn him down. “It did tonight, but not in the first two games,” he admitted. “Still, I won the group, which is nice. They could’ve made it a bit easier for me, but even when it’s tough, I can step up. I know I can, and I showed that.”

For all the speculation over his form, van Gerwen’s resume remains unmatched among the current field – and he hasn’t forgotten it. “Being a three-time winner, of course it frustrates me when people say I might go out,” he said. “My record doesn’t lie, does it?”

As statement performances go, this was emphatic. A 108 average, ruthless finishing and total control against one of the game’s greats – the kind of display that shifts momentum and reasserts authority.

“As long as you believe in your own ability, anything is possible,” van Gerwen concluded. “When you feel good and you’re into the game, you know you’ll create chances for yourself. Whether it’s double 12, double six or bullseye – it has to go in. Simple as that.”

After a shaky start to his Grand Slam campaign, Michael van Gerwen is back in full flow – and on this form, the rest of the field will be feeling very uneasy.