“The best days are with them” – Michael van Gerwen shrugs off criticism from Vincent van der Voort and enjoys a holiday with his children

Michael van Gerwen has deliberately stepped away from the darts circuit in recent days. After a disappointing spell, in which he failed to qualify for the Premier League Darts play-offs, the three-time world champion decided to shift his focus temporarily.

Instead of traveling to the next ranking event, Van Gerwen chose something different: quality time with his children.

Together with his children, the Dutchman headed to a sunny holiday destination. On social media, Van Gerwen showed he was clearly enjoying the trip. In photos he shared via Instagram, he poses with his children on the beach.

The smile on his face says it all. As does the caption of the images: “The best days are with them.”

The decision to take a holiday also had sporting consequences. Van Gerwen therefore skipped the Euro Tour in Kiel. That not only meant he missed out on prize money, but also that he could not collect ranking points for the world rankings. Strikingly, the tournament on paper seemed to offer opportunities.

Only two players from the world’s top eight lined up at the start, and the semi-finals were ultimately reached by Luke Woodhouse, Ricky Evans, Damon Heta, and Ryan Joyce. For a player of Van Gerwen’s caliber, that might have been an excellent chance to make a significant move.

That decision did not go unnoticed. Close friend and former professional darter Vincent van der Voort in particular spoke out critically about the Brabander’s choice. On the podcast Darts Draait Door, Van der Voort stated that if he were actually responsible for guiding Van Gerwen, he would take a different course.

According to Van der Voort, Van Gerwen is currently making choices that he himself does not always fully support. At the same time, he emphasized that it is ultimately the player who decides which direction he wants to go. As a friend he offers advice where possible, but the final responsibility lies with Van Gerwen himself.

The discussion touches on an interesting point in the Dutch star’s career. While elite sport often revolves around results, ranking points, and prize money, Van Gerwen this time deliberately chose his family. Whether that decision proves right in the long run will ultimately be determined by his performances on stage. For now, however, one thing seems clear: Van Gerwen is thoroughly enjoying time with his children.