“Before a match he’s still out dancing in Ibiza, and a few days later he has to play a major darts tournament" - Michael van Gerwen criticised again after early World Matchplay exit

PDC
Thursday, 23 July 2026 at 13:15
Michael van Gerwen also recently made a trip to Ibiza
Michael van Gerwen is going through one of the toughest spells of his career. The three-time world champion has been searching for his old form for months, and the World Matchplay brought no change. In Blackpool, the Dutchman exited early after a defeat to Dirk van Duijvenbode, costing him more valuable ranking points.
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Van Gerwen went down 14-12 to Van Duijvenbode in the second round of the World Matchplay. The disappointing results of recent months have seen Van Gerwen slide down the world rankings. For the first time since 2012, he is no longer in the top five of the PDC Order of Merit. He currently sits sixth, but his early exit at the World Matchplay means he risks dropping even further over the coming months.
Van Gerwen’s dip in form was also discussed on Tuesday evening in SBS6’s De Oranjezomer. Darts commentator Koert Westerman shared his view on the situation of the former world number one. According to Westerman, the decline is no one-off, but a trend that has been visible for some time.
“This has been going on for a while,” Westerman stated. He believes there is more behind it than just sporting performance. The commentator pointed to the turbulent period Van Gerwen has experienced in his private life. Last year, the darter announced that his marriage to Daphne Govers had ended. They have two children together, and the separation marked a major change in his personal life.

Van Duijvenbode verslaat Michael van Gerwen World Matchplay 2026

Impact on performance

Westerman stressed that such circumstances can also affect a top athlete’s performance. At the same time, he believes Van Gerwen must engineer a turnaround in the short term to prevent him from slipping further down the world rankings.
“Something has to happen. Otherwise the era is over,” Westerman warned. He went a step further by suggesting that if the current results continue, Van Gerwen could eventually even fall outside the world’s top 30.
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Sports marketeer Chris Woerts also joined the debate. He was critical of how Van Gerwen has presented himself away from the oche in recent times. According to Woerts, the Dutchman currently lacks the full focus required to perform at the highest level.
“He just needs to stay focused,” said Woerts. “Before a match he’s still out dancing in Ibiza, and a few days later he has to play a major darts tournament. That just doesn’t work in elite sport.”

A long walk off the Winter Gardens stage for Michael van Gerwen

Witty response

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Although the remarks were strong, a response from Van Gerwen was not long in coming. During the broadcast, Westerman received a message from the darter. After the break, the commentator decided to share its content with viewers. “Michael wrote: ‘Weeds never die.’”
With that short but telling reply, Van Gerwen made it clear he has by no means accepted his current situation. The remark drew immediate applause in the studio. Host Hélène Hendriks also appreciated the sharp comeback.
Michael van Gerwen & Dirk van Duijvenbode
Michael van Gerwen lost in the second round of the World Matchplay to Dirk van Duijvenbode
Westerman agreed and expressed confidence in a possible comeback by the Dutchman. “That’s it, Michael, just keep going. I’ll be back. He’s a top player.”
Despite the current dip in form, Van Gerwen remains one of the most successful darters in the sport’s history. With three world titles, countless major wins, and years as world number one, he has repeatedly shown he can battle back after lean spells.
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The coming months will show whether ‘Mighty Mike’ can once again find his way back to the absolute summit. The field is stronger than ever, but Van Gerwen himself still seems convinced that his story is far from finished. If his message to Westerman makes one thing clear, it is that he has no intention of giving in any time soon.
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