"They said they happened to be in the neighborhood": Michael van Gerwen hounded by tabloid press amid divorce

Michael van Gerwen returns to the darts stage this week. In an interview with Sportnieuws.nl, the three-time world champion announced his comeback, after a month's absence due to personal circumstances. The 36-year-old Dutchman was struggling with a difficult period in his private life, in which he announced he had split from his long-time wife Daphne with divorce proceedings starting.

After his defeat against Nathan Aspinall on the final day of Premier League Darts in May - with which he missed the playoffs - Van Gerwen decided to put down his darts temporarily. The focus was entirely on his children Zoë (7) and Mike (5) and settling the divorce.

"Everything is kind of under control now," Van Gerwen said in the interview. "I have space in my head again to return to the oche. Darts at the highest level is what I love to do the most."

His comeback will take place at the World Series of Darts in New York. "Everyone knows it's been a very eventful period for me. But you can't dwell on the past. I have to move on, I have to work again and find pleasure in what I'm doing again."

About the rumors and public interest surrounding his private life, Van Gerwen does not want to comment. "A lot of people ask me things, but this is a private matter. Nobody has anything to do with that. What people think about it doesn't affect me. The most important thing for me is that things are good for my children."

Van Gerwen stressed that he handles it in his own way. "I'm old and wise enough. Zoe and Mike are my everything. I have to take care of them, and I do that with full conviction."

That his private life has been in the spotlight in recent weeks has not escaped him. "Whether I look left or right, it's all over social media. It's actually too crazy for words, but it's part of it. What people say doesn't affect me anymore. This is not the first storm I've experienced."

Even the tabloid press knew where to find him. "All of a sudden they were at my door from RTL Boulevard, while I was picking up my kids from school. They said they happened to be in the neighborhood - yes, of course. What they were doing in Vlijmen? No idea. But I don't care much about that. I just want to do what is best for myself. From that position I can show great things again."