VAN GERWEN CLAIMS LITTLER WANTS TO AVOID HIM

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has boldly claimed Luke Littler would rather avoid him at the World Darts Championship.

‘Mighty Mike’ opens his campaign against Japanese qualifier Mitsuhiko Tatsunami on Thursday evening.

The Dutchman has shown flashes of his old brilliance in 2025, ending a two-year wait for a major title by beating teenage sensation Littler 11-7 to lift the World Series Finals.

And Van Gerwen is determined not to be written off at Ally Pally, insisting he remains one of the most feared names in the sport.

He said: “The bookmakers have been wrong over the past so many times, so let me do it again. I don’t have to remind anyone.

“Everyone knows what I’m capable of. The worlds is a different animal, a different kind of pressure, atmosphere, everything, attention, so we’re going to see what’s going to happen there.

“Ask Luke Littler who he doesn’t want to play. He will definitely say my name. 100%. And if he doesn’t, he’s lied. That’s the way it is.

“I want to win more. I don’t look to other people. The day you look to other people, is the day you better invest the time in yourself.”

Van Gerwen has endured a turbulent year off the oche, divorcing his wife of 11 years, Daphne, while his father Henri has been battling cancer.

After such a stressful campaign, the world No3 admits that lifting a FOURTH World Championship title would represent the greatest achievement of his career to date.

He added: “Of course. Through the circumstances, that gives me more energy, shall I say it that way.

“Everyone knows I have had a really tough year, on and off the oche. But you have to adjust yourself, you have to adapt yourself.

“You need to try to find a new balance in your life. That’s not that easy, but you can’t look back over your shoulder.

“It doesn’t help anymore. You have to look forwards. You need to try to do as good as possible for yourself.

“100 per cent a new chapter. A chapter I’ve never faced in my life as well. That’s why I’m saying you need to find that new balance in life.

“Also, with kids are home. When I am home now and the kids are there, I have to look after them.

“It’s not like I have a wife who helps you. That’s all new for me. That will fall in place. That takes time, but I know I’m capable of doing that easy.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.