Van Gerwen reacts to criticism of early season form ahead of World Championship

Van Gerwen spoke to the assembled media at the World Championship press launch including DartsNews.com and said that his preparations already have started well and that players threw everything at him at times this year due to early season form problems but that to comeback now it feels even better.

'Now that's the only tournament were looking forward to now, I started off my tournament preparations quite well winning the Players Championship Finals,' said Van Gerwen during the World Championship media launch.

'People threw everything at me this year because I showed some weakness over the summer but the bounceback feels even better.'

In terms of the pressure on himself, he said that he knows he has a big target on his back but that despite some fans not wanting you to win, it produces some good battles which Van Gerwen admits are good for darts.

He also said that having that pressure on him for so long means that he is stronger and that from his perspective he always needs to prepare himself.

'I have a big target on my back and of course when you are doing really well, a lot of people don't want you to win and I know that. Then you get the great battles on the stage and that's good for darts. You have characters like Gerwyn Price, he's doing really well lately; I am glad I could put the pressure on him though yesterday in a brilliant final.'

'I also had that 5, 6 or 8 years ago but that makes you stronger for your next games. You always need to prepare your mind or mistakes are being made.'

Van Gerwen has never defended his World Championship crown and it isn't something that bothers him and as long as he's winning tournaments he is happy. On a similar note in terms of criticism, he said that despite wanting to win all the time, it isn't always possible and people are quick to judge as a result.

'I need to defend the title and winning it for the fifth time, third time; I don't care I just have to make sure I'm winning tournaments I'm in or there's no point competing. They said the same for me with the World Grand Prix.'

'I think people judge quite easily and that's up to them, it doesn't really bother me. Of course I want to win all the time but it's not always possible.'

'I also had that 5, 6 or 8 years ago but that makes you stronger for your next games. You always need to prepare your mind or mistakes are being made.'

Van Gerwen also spoke about the World Series moving to Madison Square Garden next year and said that it's great for the progression of darts but on a personal note, it takes away his holiday in Las Vegas.

'It's phenomenal, how many big people have fought in that arena. Darts can only dream about things like that, but the PDC makes it happen. That's a good thing for the progression of darts. One downside of it they took it out of Las Vegas and my nice little holiday week is gone,' joked Van Gerwen.