"Whether he's back for good? Wait and see!" - Van der Voort halts the hype after Van Gerwen's World Series win

Michael van Gerwen proved again at the 2025 World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam why he still belongs to the absolute world top in darts. The Dutchman, who recently went through a difficult phase both on the board and off, managed to beat everyone and everything in the Dutch capital. Is it a sign he's back to his best permanently?

For many darts fans, this victory came unexpectedly. Van Gerwen had been struggling with volatility in his play for some time and was also struggling with the consequences of his divorce. Yet everything fell into place in Amsterdam. It was a relief for both himself and his loyal supporters to see that old determination and dominance again.

According to good friend and colleague Vincent van der Voort, the achievement is even more impressive than it seems at first glance. On Viaplay, he stressed that Van Gerwen had a tough draw: "He beat the number one in the world and the number two in the world. Josh Rock, the man in form, he beat. And a very good Wessel Nijman as well. It's been a fantastic tournament for him. He can be super proud of himself."

The fact that Van Gerwen not only took out the established players such as Cross and Humphries, but also kept up with the new generation with Rock and Littler, makes his win all the more valuable. It is a powerful signal that he can still keep up with the best, even when conditions are not ideal.

Still, Van der Voort, who has been a confidant of Van Gerwen for years, wants to temper expectations. According to him, this success is a great boost, but no guarantee that Van Gerwen is structurally back to his old level. "It's always again of: 'when are you back?' But actually you're never really back. Every week a new test awaits. Next week Hungary is already on the program, and if you lose the first round there, people immediately say that this was an incident. That's just how top sport works."

Van der Voort stressed that the main thing now is for Van Gerwen to persevere and keep working hard. Consistency is ultimately what the darts world is all about. One title can be a breakthrough, but only by repeatedly performing at this level can Van Gerwen reassert his status as a dominant force.

What makes this title extra special is that in addition to his sporting struggles, Van Gerwen also went through a difficult period privately. His divorce obviously had a big impact and caused him to have to find his balance in life again. "Actually, it's a miracle that he wins this tournament," Van der Voort said. "When you see where he came from, this is just super smart."

The two have been working together regularly in recent years, but vacations and busy tournaments have meant there has been less opportunity for that recently. Still, their bond remains strong, and that is of great value to Van Gerwen.

The win in Amsterdam undoubtedly gives Van Gerwen a huge dose of confidence. He showed that he can still do it, and that he can beat both young talents and established names. But as Van der Voort rightly points out, the real challenge lies in maintaining this level.

For fans, it remains especially enjoyable that "Mighty Mike" was at the oche again with his knife between his teeth. His emotion afterwards, the conviction in his finishes and the power in his scoring were reminiscent of the Brabander's heyday.

Whether this tournament marks a new beginning or an occasional revival will become clear in the coming weeks. However, one thing is certain: Michael van Gerwen once again showed in Amsterdam why he is still one of the greatest darters of all time.