MARDLE: MVG B-GAME NOT GOOD ENOUGH
27/04/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
WAYNE MARDLE believes Michael van Gerwen’s “B-game” is no longer good enough to compete at the elite level.
The world No.4, who has not won a ranked major since the Players Championship Finals 2022, is facing a stark drop-off from his dominant peak.
Mighty Mike faces a potential rankings slide as low as 20th after the 2026/27 PDC World Darts Championship, with huge prize money to defend from Ally Pally and World Matchplay final runs.
The Dutchman has won just ONE Premier League Darts night across the last two seasons and currently sits fourth in the table.
MVG has not reached a floor final in 18 months and failed to qualify for the Players Championship Finals last year for the first time in his career.
Former pro Mardle believes Van Gerwen is being held back by his levels below his best
He told Oche180: “My opinion on Michael van Gerwen is when he plays his A-game he wins. He doesn’t win as often as he used to.
“His A-game would always be enough. Now sometimes it is not. My concern or maybe his concern for himself is his B-game doesn’t win. His C-game just has no chance of winning.
“When he played well in the World Series Finals he was good. He was near the top of his game.
“Not the 110 [average] Michael van Gerwen but the 102 [average]. If he can do that constantly again and again then he will get back there.
“It won’t be a problem and it will be do you remember when Michael had that drop off.
“I still believe, and he believes this because we had a chat a few weeks ago, that he knows his A-game wins.
“He feels that, and that is still important. But he feels his B-game is not good enough in spells, and that is the problem.
“Who plays their A-game? It doesn’t come out very often.”
But Van Gerwen has still shown flashes of brilliance over the past 12 months, winning the World Series Finals and the Bahrain Masters, although neither title counts towards the Order of Merit.
He returns to action on Thursday in the Premier League at Aberdeen when he takes on Josh Rock.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
