Robert Marijanovic follows in the footsteps of Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries to a certain extent

Michael van Gerwen lost 15-18 to Luke Humphries in the final of the World Matchplay 2024, but it's not just this final that links the Dutchman to the Englishman.

Van Gerwen announced at the start of the World Matchplay that he would have another operation on his teeth. "They're going to break my upper and lower jaws and reset them. They will move my upper jaw 6 millimeters forward and my lower jaw only 3 millimeters back. I have a severe underbite, a penny bowl as they call it. That bothers me a lot," he announced.

After the World Matchplay final, van Gerwen said that he "had to go under the knife fourteen hours later". ''Why so early? Because the doctor has time. That's part of it. I've been looking forward to it for a long time and I'm also looking forward to the second half of the season. I think I've shown some nice things here and done myself a nice favor."

As painful as Mighty Mike's explanation may sound, Robert Marijanovic didn't take too kindly to the idea on the "Game On" podcast. "I've heard that from two people who have done it for other reasons," he said. "It's really become a standard procedure these days. So breaking a jaw and letting it heal again, moving it - it's nothing earth-shattering anymore. It's often done in plastic surgery in particular."

But not only the Dutchman, but also his opponent in the World Matchplay final, announced an operation on his teeth. "Unfortunately, I don't have to have braces, but rather Invisalign braces," Cool Hand Luke told Viaplay. "Michael is also having major surgery. My teeth are being corrected and straightened, so it's going to hurt for a few weeks, I'll have to get over it, but I'm glad I'm getting it done and looking healthy again."

In this context, Marijanovic admitted that he was not happy with his teeth either. "There's one thing I'm totally unhappy with - and I've already mentioned that a few times. That's my teeth. I'm going to have something done there too. That's safe," he told his counterpart Elmar Paulke in the podcast.

A visit to the dentist to correct his teeth is therefore already planned. However, the Robstar is also limited in this respect. "Not the complete program."

However, this restriction is due less to willpower and more to the financial situation at Marijanovic. "If I had the money now, I would also have the complete program done," said the Robstar, explaining the reason for the restrictions.