Van Gerwen only looking towards Premier League Darts play-offs: "That's the only thing that counts for me this weekend"

Michael van Gerwen eased through the gears and saw off Marko Kantele on his return to the Nordic Darts Masters, the tournament that kickstarted his winning form again late last year.

"I did what I had to do. I was winning this game of course I could have performed better here and there but the most important thing I won this game. I felt comfortable on the stage, I had a great welcome and that gives you a great boost of course," said Van Gerwen to Online Darts.

He also reflected on the US Darts Masters and said the PDC should be proud and has come a long way.

"I think there was only huge positives. Everyone was a winner there, the PDC, the crowd, the American Darts organisation. Of course if you're going to look back like 15 years ago towards where we are now you can only be proud. I think the PDC should get a lot of credit for that."

But this weekend wise, he only has his sights set really on the Premier League Darts title in Monday in Berlin ahead of his surgery.

"That's the only thing that counts for me this weekend. Of course I want to win this but my main target is Monday and the Premier League final."

"The players I'm playing against aren't donkeys, they can play so I need to make sure I'm sharp."