At Ibiza parties with DJ Martin Garrix, backstage on the photo with techno producer Paul Kalkbrenner and a visit to Tomorrowland with former football players Eljero Elia and Theo Lucius. Anyone who follows the socials of Darter Michael van Gerwen sees that the Vlijmenaar has exchanged the darts during the summer months for the dance floor and VIP spaces. On Friday evening he participates in AFAS Live in the World Series Finals in AFAS and the question is how ‘Mighty Mike’ will appear.
“He emptied his head after a difficult time,” says his bosom friend, confidant, training buddy and dartscollega Vincent van der Voort to the NOS. “He has sought distraction and did fun things. He has partyed, but has also been on vacation with his children.”
Van Gerwen stopped darts at the end of May because of a relationship break and also received bad news about the health of his father. The darter from Vlijmen was looking for distraction in holidays and parties, but the busy darts week with the most important tournaments is now coming.
He has trained, but if you are not there with your head, then it doesn’t help you that much. Of course his career is important, but it is also important to get it in private, “Van der Voort explains why Dutch” most successful darter put his sport on the second plan temporarily.
“Michael has a cupboard of a house, but when the children are with their mother, he is just alone.”
Where toppers such as Luke Humphries and Luke Littler can fully focus on throwing arrows, Van Gerwen has to distribute his attention and time. “The divorce is not yet completely completed. He must be busy with darts, being busy with his children, all of that at the same time is certainly not easy,” says 49-year-old Van der Voort.
“Michael has to find his way again. He has a cupboard of a house, but if the children are with their mother, he is just alone. There was always a stir there. Everything that used to be normal is no longer self -evident.”
Van der Voort, who has planned a year of rest due to physical complaints, tries to help his buddy as well as possible. For example, they often call and immediately after the divorce he visited Van Gerwen. “But of course I am not an expert. I also don’t know exactly how to solve this mentally. I can easily give tips in the darts, but now I just try to support him. Fortunately we can say everything to each other.”
“He will never admit that, but Michael has done less for it. He has taken it for granted.”
Van der Voort sees that his friend is in a valley. “He has a lot less energy. This period has done him a lot, but I think it has not only been in recent months. It has always gone a little less in the last few years.” Van Gerwen is a triple world champion and was the top favorite for years to win every tournament. A look at this year’s results learns that there is little left of that force majeure. Van Gerwen won only one tournament in 2025.
The problem? According to Van der Voort, Van Gerwen has worked less hard in recent years than his competitors. “He will never admit that, but he has done less for it. He has taken it for granted. If he wants to come back to the top, he must live completely for his sport again.”
Van Gerwen’s performance in the World Series also shows that the darter is in a lesser period. Van Gerwen did not end with the best eight and has an unplaced status. The five -time winner of the tournament was therefore able to lottery lottery tickets and meets countryman Wessel Nijman in the first round. And that is not tender, says Van der Voort. “Wessel is fantastic to play. That will be a difficult task.”
“But it is Michael van Gerwen. If he puts his head on it and it is mentally well, it must be fine. I am convinced that he can come back to his old level,” concludes Van der Voort.