MVG VOWS TO MAKE PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYOFF

By Aaron Nijjar  

MICHAEL van Gerwen believes he can reach the Premier League playoffs despite his recent woes at the oche.  

‘The Green Machine’ has failed to make the top four only once in the last twelve years — back in 2020, when he finished sixth. 

But MVG is yet pick up a nightly win in the Premier League this year, seeing Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall leapfrog him in the standings despite being on the same number of points.  

World No. 3 Van Gerwen had to pull out of Night Nine in Berlin after sustaining a freak neck injury while putting a shirt on, hampering his points tally further. 

Three-time World champion Van Gerwen is in fifth and will face Stephen Bunting on Night 11 of the tournament in Rotterdam. 

And the 47-time major winner insists the “fire” is still there to be successful despite no TV title for 15 months.  

He said: “I’m pain-free now. It’s a little bit stiff but it doesn’t affect my darts.  

“I think it’s just me, having the wrong arm. I need to buy a new one! 

“I still have the fire in my belly. The anger is still there when you don’t perform 100 per cent. 

“When you face the past, you’ve your back against the future. You’ve to look to the future. 

“I changed darts for a reason. To get my mind off things. When you aren’t 100 per cent comfortable, it’s a nice thing, but it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to. 

“After last week, I’m glad I can play darts again and that’s the biggest plus. 

“It’s not the most pleasant moment in my career. I’ll never give up. I’ll fight for everything. I know it’s still there. You don’t lose talent like that. 

“You need to keep hold of your own belief and as long as you can do that, a lot is possible. The last two years haven’t been consistent. 

“I won absolutely nothing but in the rankings, I won the most prize money after the two Lukes. 

“But for what I have in my tank, it’s underperforming, simple as that. 

“The Premier League doesn’t move on for anyone. Last week when I pulled out, I couldn’t throw a dart. The 6-0 walkover defeat doesn’t help but it is what it is. 

“I still believe I can make the top-four, 100 per cent. But you have to win points. 

“The fire is in my belly to perform. I have to keep grafting.” 

If the Dutchman can finally pick up his first nightly win of 2025, it would be even more special because he will achieve this with a home crowd in Rotterdam. 

Van Gerwen is aware of the expectations on him to claim victory in the Netherlands even if he knows his current form doesn’t warrant it.  

He added: “It’s always more expectation for me.  

“Maybe not now, I don’t know, because it would be really weird for all the fans to expect me to win after the last few weeks.  

“I still believe in myself, so you never know. You know how quickly it can not turn your [way], also how quickly it can turn your [way].  

“I need to make sure I keep grafting and keep trying to do as good as possible for myself. 

“If you asked me three, four weeks ago, I would say I’m not too far.  

“I’m a small percentage off what I’m capable of doing, but now I’ve been pushed back like five, six, seven per cent, I think. 

“So I need to make sure I’m grafting harder and to make sure I get it back in my pocket to make sure I’m strong on the dartboard and I throw more freely.” 

Image by Taylor Lanning.