Michael van Gerwen delivered a powerful reminder that he still belongs to the absolute elite. The Dutchman claimed his first Players Championship title since October 2024, doing so in a manner that evoked memories of his peak years. With, among other things, a phenomenal 122 average against Martin Schindler, ‘Mighty Mike’ sent a strong message to the rest of the darts world: don’t write him off yet.
After a grueling yet successful day at Players Championship 15, Van Gerwen looked visibly relieved as he reflected on his performances. The three-time world champion admitted that in the opening phase of the tournament he was battling himself more than his opponents. “In the first three games, I had the power in myself. I played okay at the start, but I could have done a little bit more here and there and I missed too many doubles,” he said. That changed as the day went on. From the quarterfinals onward, Van Gerwen began to loosen up and produced darts of the very highest standard. His display against Germany’s Martin Schindler was especially striking. With an eye-watering 122 average, Van Gerwen recorded one of the best performances of his career. “I think in the last three or four games, I can’t really complain,” he said with a smile. “I played some fantastic darts — even against Martin Schindler. Martin Schindler absolutely destroyed it, and then the final against Dirk… what a day.”
The semifinal against Schindler will long be a talking point in the darts world. Not only because of the extraordinary average, but above all due to how Van Gerwen reached that level. According to the Dutchman, it was particularly special because he had to carry the match entirely on his own. “If you look at the game and the way we played, I had to create that game all by myself. To hit a big average, of course everyone can do that,” he explained. “Normally you need two good players to do that, because then the other player wins legs, you don’t get a shot at your scoring or your doubles, so your average stays high.” This time it was different. Van Gerwen dominated from start to finish and gave Schindler barely any chances to get involved. “But now I had to do it all by myself, and he only had two darts at doubles. That gave a really good feeling.” The win also meant far more than just a place in the final. For Van Gerwen, it felt like confirmation that, after a difficult spell, he can still excel at the highest level. “For me, more important, after a very, very long time, I managed to win a ProTour again like this. It means a lot.”
Van Gerwen beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 8-5 in the final. The title marked his first floor triumph since October 2024. For a player who for years reached finals almost weekly and lifted trophies, that was a notably long drought. Yet the Brabant native stressed that in recent weeks he already felt his form returning. “I’ve been playing well over the last few weeks,” he said. “A couple of 100-plus averages — but sometimes you still lose good games. That’s also part of the game.” According to Van Gerwen, the biggest challenge was mainly mental. Despite the setbacks, he tried to keep faith in his own ability. “You always need to make sure you keep your head going, keep your momentum going and believe in your own ability. I think I’m playing some good darts, so from now on, I don’t really care.” That relaxed approach seemed to suit him. The aggressive, self-assured aura that defined him for years gradually returned over the course of the tournament. Against Schindler and later in the final against Van Duijvenbode, Van Gerwen played with flair, conviction, and above all, enjoyment.
The final against Van Duijvenbode also carried extra emotional weight. Both Dutchmen have endured difficult periods recently. Van Duijvenbode struggled with injuries and loss of form, while Van Gerwen wrestled with inconsistency and outside criticism. That made it visibly pleasing for Van Gerwen that two Dutch players met in the final. “I’m quite proud of Dirk,” he said candidly. “He’s going through a tough time, probably like me. So to have both of us in the final, I think that’s good for Dutch darts.” Van Gerwen felt both players badly needed this uplift. “We both really needed it — for confidence, for the rest of the year, for everything. And to beat him in a fantastic game like this, it’s always nice.” Looking ahead, Van Gerwen noted the timing of his resurgence is ideal. “Premier League is around the corner,” he said. “But for me at the moment, ranking tournaments are really important because of the rankings.” Yet there was no trace of panic or frustration in his words. On the contrary: Van Gerwen appeared relaxed and motivated. “I’m looking forward to it. I love what I do, and especially when I play like this, I love it even more.” Despite the title, Van Gerwen was careful not to get ahead of himself when asked about his goals for 2026. “I’m not going to put myself under any pressure,” he said. “I don’t think I’m in that position right now. But everyone knows what I’m capable of, so don’t write me off.” He added: “I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I’ve already done that part. Now it’s about enjoying what I do when I can, and I think that’s really the next step forward for me.”
