"That’s not going to happen again, I think I quit darts before that": Two more years without a major title? Not on Michael van Gerwen's watch

Michael van Gerwen admitted it felt “fantastic” to finally end his wait for another televised title after clinching the 2025 World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.

The Dutchman had gone two years without lifting a major trophy but produced a superb weekend display, capped with victory over Luke Littler in the final, to claim the World Series crown for the sixth time.

“I feel fantastic, to be fair,” Van Gerwen reflected. “I had to battle quite hard to show what I did, but in the end it was getting a little bit tougher. It gave me so much joy—the crowd, the people around me, everything. And then, of course, when you play good darts, it helps as well.”

The three-time World Champion conceded that waiting two years to get back to winning ways was unusual for him but insisted the self-reflection had been vital.

“Two years is a long time to wait for that feeling,” he said. “A little bit too long for a player like me, but you always need to look yourself in the mirror. And when things aren’t great, you have to tell yourself. But when things are good, like this weekend, I can really enjoy them. And that’s, I think, also really important.”

Van Gerwen underlined the magnitude of his achievement by highlighting the calibre of opponents he beat en route to the title. “This one’s really sweet,” he said. “To beat guys like Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Josh Rock in one day, it’s not the worst performance, to be fair. But from there on, I think I can show more. You need to believe in yourself, and I think I can do it, because there are so many big tournaments coming up. I need to make sure I’m ready for them.”

Asked if he could face another long wait for silverware, Van Gerwen was quick to dismiss the idea. “That’s not going to happen again. I think I quit darts before that,” he said.

While the final against Littler drew significant attention, Van Gerwen downplayed the narrative of rivalry. “No, it doesn’t really matter,” he explained. “I think the game against the other players today was good as well, but whoever comes on your path, you have to beat them. You need to make sure you’re always prepared.” When told his victory signalled his return to the top, Van Gerwen replied bluntly: “I’ve never been away.”

The match was sealed in style with a 130 checkout, and Van Gerwen admitted it was a moment he had to take. “Wow, because I think it was a finish you need to get,” he said. “You don’t want to give him the confidence that he maybe has a little. Sometimes Luke can also have a moment where he’s hitting everything, so you need to make sure you keep on top of him, keep putting on the pressure. You could see he was dealing with crowds, with his own performances as well, and then you need to make sure you do the right thing for yourself. That’s not always that easy, but you need to keep your focus remaining, and that’s the most important thing.”

The World Series Finals trophy has been given an updated design, and Van Gerwen joked that it suited him perfectly. “It’s a lovely one, isn’t it? You see, they knew I was going to win it,” he smiled. “After the last five years, they needed to come with a good one, hey?”

Van Gerwen stressed that it wasn’t just Littler and Humphries who made his run impressive, pointing out the strength of the field. "And Rob Cross, and the other guys as well,” he noted. “You have to beat everyone if you want to win a tournament—whether it’s the first round or the last round, that doesn’t matter. You always have to be sharp regardless.”

When informed he was the first player to beat both Littler and Humphries on the way to a PDC Premier Event title, Van Gerwen responded with trademark confidence. “Was I the first one? And I will be the second and the third one as well,” he said.