Michael van Gerwen knows for sure: he is the top favorite at the World Darts Championship, which starts in London’s Alexandra Palace in just over two weeks. De Vlijmenaar, who was the best in the world for the last time in 2019, will go for his fourth title. “I don’t have to prove that I’m better than every other darts player. They know that if I reach my top level, I’ll be the best.”
The 33-year-old Van Gerwen recovered surprisingly quickly from an operation on his throwing arm this summer. He won the World Matchplay, the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals after the procedure.
If he wins the world title again, he is automatically number 1 in the world again. Now Van Gerwen has to put up with Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright. “If you look at my games against them, if you look at the statistics, they don’t lie,” said the man who won world titles in 2014, 2017 and 2019 with confidence.
Seeded third, Van Gerwen will be allowed to skip the first round of the tournament, which starts on December 15. On December 21, his compatriot Niels Zonneveld or the Welshman Lewy Williams will be his first opponent. Van Gerwen is now the top favorite with the bookmakers for the top prize of 500,000 pounds, about 580,000 euros.
“Everyone knows I’ve had a rough few years.”
“I’ve had to go deep sometimes this year, but that’s only good. You learn to fight for it. It’s good for your confidence and I think it can be even better. Everyone knows I’ve had a few difficult years, but the most important thing is how you get over it. I did well this year.”
“I want to win at least five world titles,” says Van Gerwen. “It could have been more than three, but I still have a long career ahead of me. I just have to continue doing what I love most: winning races on the highest podium.”