Van Gerwen secretly enjoys Michael Smith escapades in Las Vegas: ''I would just never do it like that myself''

Michael Smith did choose a very special run-up to the Premier League Darts' visit to the Netherlands. On Thursday night, the twelfth round of the competition will be played in Ahoy Rotterdam.

Smith celebrated holidays in Las Vegas in recent days. On social media, 'Bullyboy' shared snapshots of his trip to the gambling city.

Among others, he shared a picture in which he was sitting in a Jacuzzi with his wife with a bottle of champagne in hand. Another picture showed Smith with a thick cigar. ''World champion, number one in the world and now number one in life, completed it mate.'' the world number one tweeted.

However, the expensive holiday was also recouped by Smith, he revealed in another post. In a casino, he managed to win $12,000. The reigning world champion's escapades were widely reported.

This news also reached Michael van Gerwen. Van Gerwen could secretly enjoy the photos Smith shared. ''I would just never do it like that myself, flying to Vegas in between Premier League rounds. Especially not when you are not sure of the play-offs yet," the Vlijmen native told NU.nl during the press day.

''But he just does it. I like that again. He's like: I determine my own life and do whatever I want. And who says he can't throw a 110 average tomorrow? Of course he can. Everyone should let him do his thing. People who criticise his outings probably have no idea what they are writing about or what is coming at him,'' Van Gerwen said.