Michael van Gerwen is determined to reclaim his place among the world's elite, even as he endures a difficult season that has seen him slip to ninth in the world rankings. The three-time world champion, now 37, has not lost faith in his own ability, telling Sportnieuws.nl that while his performances are currently below par, he remains capable of great things.
Van Gerwen accepts that he must take responsibility for his slide. "If you look purely at form, I'm not one of the best players in the world right now," he admitted. "As a top player, you have to perform consistently, and I'm not doing that at the moment. Everyone understands why I'm slipping in the rankings. Still, I feel I should be above many of the players currently ahead of me. It's up to me to show that I still belong there." At the time of writing, Van Gerwen is No. 10 in the PDC Order of Merit.
Painful defeats have piled up, including letting a lead slip against Daryl Gurney at the World Series of Darts Finals and being knocked out of the World Grand Prix by Ryan Joyce. "I often let myself down," Van Gerwen said. "Partly, that's down to my own shortcomings, but sometimes the opponent gets a bit of luck too. I've had to take a few blows. These defeats hurt, of course, but fortunately I can take a lot. I want to turn things around as soon as possible. It doesn't always happen, though."
The disappointing results have coincided with difficulties away from the oche. His marriage to Daphne ended, and his father was diagnosed with cancer. Van Gerwen has now received cautiously positive news about his father's health. "Fortunately, he's doing better. Let's hope it stays that way." Balancing his career with caring for his children, Zoë and Mike, has also demanded attention, though he now seems to be gradually finding more balance.
Meanwhile, Van Gerwen is refining his throw with Vincent van der Voort, who has advised him for many years. "It's all about fluidity. We want to make my throw a little smoother. Sometimes there's a slight hitch in it, and I'm trying to iron that out. Everything takes time, but I can feel my level rising again." The pressure to produce results is mounting, and Van Gerwen knows it. "When you're a player of my calibre, you're always on the chopping block. I know that."
With the World Darts Championship in December approaching, Van Gerwen will have another chance to prove himself on the sport's biggest stage. The Dutchman became world champion in 2014, 2017 and 2019, but has now been waiting more than seven years for a fourth world title. He understands that he is not among the leading contenders this year, yet refuses to rule himself out in advance. A potential clash with Luke Littler does not intimidate him either.
"The World Championship is the most important tournament for every darts player. I know full well that I'm not the favourite right now. But if I set my sights on something and things start to click, someone will have to play very well to beat me. That could be Luke Littler at his best, too. It doesn't bother me. Darts can turn on a knife-edge. Sometimes things can change quickly. But I have to put in a lot of work myself: train hard and build my confidence. Then we'll see what happens."
For Van Gerwen, rediscovering his enjoyment of the sport is crucial. He still wants to add to his honours and sees a fourth world title as a goal he must pursue. "I also think I have to do it. If I can't achieve that any more, I'd be disappointed. I have to believe in myself." Although results have fallen short, Van Gerwen is far from convinced his best years are behind him. The coming months will show whether his technical adjustments and renewed enjoyment are enough to close the gap to the world's elite.
