Van Gerwen hits out at top players not travelling to Players Championship: "I have to travel abroad every week, they are a bit lazy"

Michael van Gerwen was one of only three current Premier League Darts stars to play in this past weekend's Players Championship action.

Van Gerwen sealed Event Eight in Niedernhausen but hit back at his rivals for being 'lazy' and not travelling saying he has to do it every week of his career.

“I’m not here to win a few rounds, I’m here to win these tournaments, otherwise I wouldn’t compete in them,” said the Dutchman.

“The only medicine for getting back on track is winning games and winning tournaments.

“Gerwyn Price is here, James Wade, Daryl Gurney – there are a lot of top players still here.

“Of course, they [absent players] cannot be bothered to travel abroad but I have to travel abroad every week. They are a bit lazy.”

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He also believes that with COVID having a detrimental effect that he will soon rule the sport again and that the bookies tell the tale that he is the man to beat still.

“I will be top soon, don’t worry. Last year was, of course, a disaster for me. If you look towards the ranking system, I lost £200,000 in my world ranking because of Covid, which you can’t do anything against.

“There was £250,000 probably in Euro Tours, so that’s £450,000 off the ranking that I couldn’t do anything against. So if you look towards that perspective, there’s not really a lot you can do – but I always want to aim for more, and I keep believing in myself.

“I’m still favourite with the bookies. People have their own opinion, but if I still play my game it’s still tough to beat me and they all know that. They don’t admit it but that’s how life is.”