Van Gerwen will face Brendan Dolan in the first round as he looks for his elusive third title and he is in a confident mood as he looks to arrest a barren run.

"I think I underperformed in the last two years at the World Matchplay," said Van Gerwen.

"Of course, in 2017 it was all about Phil Taylor's last year in Blackpool, so maybe it was meant to be that he won that one. In the last two years, Jeffrey de Zwaan and Glen Durrant both played very well to beat me, but I didn't perform, simple as that.

"Early defeats in big tournaments like this hurt me because I am not used to it, but sometimes you can't put your finger on why it happens.

"The World Matchplay is a lovely tournament with a format which suits me well and I am hungry to get this title back where it belongs in my cabinet.

"I have got nothing to defend at all so I think I might be hungry for that title.”