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.
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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.
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"He's got too much class. It is fantastic, his little wobble for everyone else involved. It's making the sport grow."
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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"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 a cause for concern," - @Webby180 as @MvG180 prepares to return to a tournament he has dominated