Van Gerwen drops outside world's top 10 for first time in 14 years

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has dropped outside of the top 10 in the world for the first time in 14 years after a difficult run.

The three-time World Champion has failed to win his first game in seven of his last eight tournaments and suffered an early exit at the European Championship to compatriot Kevin Doets, going down 6-3.

Van Gerwen, 37, has won 48 PDC major titles but last lifted a ranking major trophy at the Players Championship Finals in November 2022.

A litany of early exits in 2026 have compounded the Dutchman's woes though. He recently told Sportnieuws.nl he still wants one more World Championship before calling it a day.

He said: "I want to become World Champion at least one more time. But when you look at what I have already achieved, I could only have dreamed of that.

"But I don’t want to settle for that. If I start enjoying life again and become the best version of myself, I can still achieve many great things. I am absolutely convinced of that."

Van Gerwen faces an uphill battle to re-establish himself in the upper echelons of the sport and is defending £200k in ranking money at the 2027 World Championship after reaching the final two years ago, ultimately losing to Luke Littler.

Mighty Mike has faced a number of battles away from the oche in recent years and has spoken candidly in the past about his father's cancer diagnosis and his divorce from ex-wife Daphne.

He said: "That a relationship ends in such a way is painful. By now, I can say that it is better this way, also for me as a person. Of course, the divorce has had a huge impact on me. You suddenly have to adjust on many levels. That hasn't always been easy for me. My life has changed completely.

"I think we both always knew that we would never grow old together. I dare say that.

“We started leading increasingly separate lives. In the past, Daphne often went along to tournaments, but later, of course, she mostly stayed at home with the children. We grew apart.

"She remains the mother of my children. Of course, not everything runs smoothly, but we have an excellent relationship. You will never hear me say negative things about her.

Everything I say, our children can read online for the rest of their lives. That doesn’t do a child any good. The interests of Zoe and Mike always come first."

On his father he added: "Fortunately, he is doing better now. Let's hope it stays that way.”

Words: Connor Cain.

Images: Taylor Lanning/PDC.