"That's the problem with Michael at the moment" - Chris Mason believes inconsistency is leaving van Gerwen vulnerable

For Michael van Gerwen, the European Championship ended in disappointment. The 34-year-old Dutchman went down 10-6 against Gian van Veen in the quarter-finals.

Van Gerwen, however, had impressed a round earlier against Ricardo Pietreczko. "Where was the MVG from round 2?" Asked Chris Mason, during ITV 4's coverage. "That's the problem with Michael at the moment, he's got one of those performances in there that that leaves him vulnerable."

"Sometimes he gets away with it and then will go on and win tournaments. As we've seen on a couple of occasions this year on television."

"I think he was aware of the threat the fact that he's not had a lot to do with Gian," Mason adds. "Gian's been been around a whole season now pretty much and there's been no real contact between them. I find that a little unusual. Maybe he feels there's a bit of a threat there from Gian van Veen because it's not only us that's been talking about him for the last 12 months."

Van Veen is seen by many as the next big Dutch darting star and his performances this year have left Mason impressed. "All credit to Gian, he held it all together. A few too many doubles missed for him today but that's the pressure of the occasion. I mean he's not bottled it by any means."