Webster on Van Gerwen's downturn in form: "It's the first long-standing blip where there is cause for concern"

Michael van Gerwen has been at the top as the dominant force in darts for most of the last decade but doubts have crept in after an inconsistent 2020 so far for the World Number One.

Van Gerwen barring the UK Open has crashed out in the World Matchplay and Premier League with the Green Machine even going back to his old darts which saw him claim a title at the PDC Autumn Series.

But for Mark Webster, despite admitting he is going through a downturn, he believes he is 'entitled' to it after such a period of dominance and admits that the field is catching up to him.

"You've got to remember Michael Van Gerwen has pretty much been the world No 1 since 2012 so it's got to be the first, I wouldn't say crisis, but it's the first long-standing blip where there is cause for concern," Webster said on The Darts Show Podcast.

"But do you know what, is he entitled to it? I'd say so. He's been dominating the sport, he took the sport to new levels and a lot of these players have jumped on the back of him and looked to him and they're producing their best performances now."

Webster believes the World Number One will return to his best very soon and that he is too good for him not to.

"I think he'll be focused, I think we'll see some of his better performances," he said.

"I'm not majorly concerned, I think when he does find his form again, he likes to rub opponents' nose in it and he's going to rub it in even more because they'll be thinking he's out the picture now when I just can't see it.

"He's got too much class. It is fantastic, his little wobble for everyone else involved. It's making the sport grow."