Michael van Gerwen does not go to ‘Ally Pally’ for a semi-final. The World Darts Championship starts there on December 15. The darts player from Brabant had a good season and seems completely back to his old self. He sees himself as a top favorite and is perhaps better than ever.
Every darts enthusiast still remembers the level that Van Gerwen tapped between 2015 and 2017. No one in the world was better than the darts player from Vlijmen. Then came the draft with some setbacks. Until this year in which he ‘just’ won four major tournaments again.
“Mentally I am stronger than five years ago,” says the number three in the world. “I feel good and have been playing very well in recent months. I also want to show that at the World Cup.”
Travels as a top favorite “Mighty Mike” off to London. “That is part of it, it means that I have performed well.”
“There’s a broad top in darts right now.”
After a difficult period, the Vlijmenaar is back at his old level. In recent years he has not started to doubt himself, but he got tired of the setbacks. Last year he had to leave the World Cup because of corona and playing in empty halls also bothered Van Gerwen. Add to that the fact that he has been operated on for carpal tunnel syndrome (a pinching in the wrist) and the causes for the lesser performance have been found. But now he is ready to fire again at the World Cup.
Of course there is a lot of competition for the darts player from Brabant. When asked who his biggest competitors are, he mentions two surprises in addition to the usual names. “Don’t underestimate Michael Smith. And Nathan Aspinall has also been throwing well in recent weeks”, he values his opponents. “I always have to be sharp. There is currently a broad top in darts. Then you have to be there every game.”
“Profit is all that matters”
“If you want to win the World Cup, you have to be able to beat everyone,” adds Van Gerwen. And that is its only purpose. De Brabant does not travel to London for a semi-final. “Then I am not satisfied. The World Cup is the biggest tournament of the year. Profit is all that matters. Otherwise I’m not happy.”
All signals are green to take his fourth world title. But it is never obvious. For Van Gerwen it is a matter of staying true to himself. “I just do my thing, then I act crazy enough.”