Michael van Gerwen lost in the final of the European Championship to Rob Cross and was left hugely disappointed that he couldn't add to his title tally with his first ranking major of the year.
Van Gerwen showed signs of a return with averages of 107.74 and 103.41 in the Quarter-Finals and semi-finals but in defeat, that all counts for nothing.
"When you play like I did in the final then you deserve to lose," Van Gerwen declared in an honest assessment.
"You can find a million excuses but I have to say I didn't show up in the final, it wasn't good enough and I can only blame myself.
"I am starting to perform a little bit better - except for the final - but I don't like picking up runner-up trophies. It doesn't count for anything, I'm a winner."