Van Gerwen admits shift in motivation after Premier League Darts defeat to Smith: "Euro Tours are more important at the moment"

Michael van Gerwen did not succeed in winning the fifteenth matchday of the Premier League on Thursday night. Mighty Mike went down in London's O2 Arena against Michael Smith in the quarterfinals.

Van Gerwen eventually lost 6-5. "I'm especially disappointed with the way the match went, this was really an unnecessary defeat. Smith started very well, I expected that because he has no chance of making the play-offs and can play freely. He has a lot of talent and you know it can be a difficult match", said Van Gerwen to TOTO Dart Kings.

Yet at 5-5 Van Gerwen still got three match darts. "I can only blame myself for missing them. For me there was little honour in this match, I'm already qualified for the play-offs and the Euro Tours are more important at the moment."

"That is perhaps the disadvantage of this new format of the Premier League," continued the 32-year-old Dutchman. "For several players, there is little at stake towards the end, then it is often extra difficult to still motivate yourself."