VAN GERWEN ADMITS TO DISASTROUS SEASON

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has admitted he’s endured a “disaster of a year” after struggling to find consistency on the oche.

World No3 Van Gerwen failed to qualify for the Players Championship Finals for the first time in his career and didn’t win a single ranked major all season.

‘Mighty Mike’ believes he can still turn it on at the Ally Pally, starting with a first-round clash against debutant Mitushiko Tatsunami.

Van Gerwen is chasing a FOURTH World Championship crown and is expecting to at least make the final.

He told talkSPORT: “I’m not stupid — I know this year I have had a disaster of a year. You have to take it on the chin and move on.

“Minimum I have to make the final. The Worlds is a different animal — different type of pressure, different kind of tournament and atmosphere.

“I have already done it.”

MVG also insisted the lethal Lukes domination of the sport won’t last forever, as long as the rest of the field finally stands up to them.

Teen phenomenon Littler has already hoovered up SIX major titles in 2025, while Luke Humphries has bagged both the World Masters and the Premier League.

Van Gerwen added: “Yes, of course it doesn’t have to be next year, but no one’s going to do that for multiple years.

“I can see that happening — but other people still have to step up.

“If other people keep being scared and don’t play as well as they can against them, then anything is possible. Of course they are great players.”

The Dutchman revealed he’s targeting a reset — both on and off the oche — as he looks to rebuild next campaign.

He continued: “I want to be more steady in life and on the dartboard. To be more stable, that is the most important thing.

“I also need to see how things are running at home with my kids because life has changed for me a little bit.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.