VAN GERWEN REFUSES TO PANIC OVER RANKINGS SLIDE

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN insists he is not worrying about his ranking despite facing a huge drop over the coming months.

The world No4 could slip outside the top 20 Order of Merit at the end of this year as he defends runner-up finishes at the World Matchplay and World Championship back in 2024.

Van Gerwen, 37, has endured a difficult season on the big stage, failing to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championship, UK Open or World Masters.

The Dutchman begins his campaign at the Winter Gardens against Andrew Gilding later this week but insists his focus is solely on his own game.

He said: “You are never going to get any easy rounds. You always need to be on top of your game and on top of the ball.

“You need to make sure you play your own game and own darts. That is what I am always going to do.

“If you look to other people that is always going to distract you.”

Mighty Mike is refusing to let recent setbacks affect his mindset as he targets a return to winning ways.

He added: “We all know I had a tough last year. If you look at the rankings then of course you are going to cause yourself a lot of problems if you don’t do well.

“That is the way how it is. But you need to take it on the chin and move on.

“You need to keep investing time in yourself to try and keep beating the guys in the most important moments.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning