02/05/2021

Van Gerwen without a title during first four months of the season for first time since 2011

Michael van Gerwen during the latest Super Series confirmed a statistic which is that he is without a title during the first four months of the season for the first time since 2011.

Van Gerwen usually up to 2019 had claimed at least five titles at the start of the year up to this point and in 2018 in particular when he was towards the peak of his powers, there was nine in the first four months of the season.

Whitlock hands Van Gerwen fourth straight defeat as disappointing Super Series concludes

This year, the Green Machine is still without a title after 15 tournaments have been played including televised and ProTours.

At the World Championship, Mighty Mike lost to Dave Chisnall in the Quarter-Finals during a tie where he was powerless to a heavy defeat from the superb St Helens ace.

While at the Masters, Jonny Clayton who has proved to be a foil for Van Gerwen in recent times proved too good in the second round. At the UK Open, he was closest to a title but lost to Luke Humphries in a sublime semi-final display.

The floor tournaments provided twelve chances for a first title but for MVG that was eight with four of them being skipped.

The eight Players Championships that he has played have resulted in just one semi-final and a barren run barring that with the latest Super Series being a case in point.

Losing to Josh Payne, William Borland, Gino Vos and then finally Simon Whitlock - with the latter seeing him finally get past the second round but like most of last year, it was 'The Wizard' who accounted for him.

At the end of May, the three-time World Champion will get his chance at another title in the form of the Premier League where he must finish top four which isn't a foregone conclusion as last year showed.

If he succeeds, he will get the chance to regain his Premier League title after a barren year which saw Glen Durrant claim it and MVG not even reach the play-offs. That will be on Friday, May 28. Can the supreme Dutchman arrest this poor run?