RVB ADMITS: “THAT’S NOT HIM”

By Aaron Nijjar 

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD has given his thoughts on Michael van Gerwen’s difficult start to 2025. 

‘The Green Machine’ has suffered a difficult time of late, most recently crashing out of the UK Open last week at the hands of world number 57 Rob Owen.  

MVG suffered a second-round exit at the World Masters with defeat to Dimitri Van den Bergh in January. 

The three-time World champion also found himself on the receiving end of a shock result at Players Championship 3 last month after being dumped out in his opening match by Irish amateur Michael Flynn. 

Despite his recent form, fellow compatriot Van Barneveld remains confident the 35-year-old will get back to his best. 

He told talkSPORT: “Oh, yeah. Without a doubt. Michael is still, in my eyes, one of the best players in the world. 

“Both Luke’s [Humphries and Littler], they are one and two in the Premier League.”

However, the five-time world champion shared his main concern surrounding ‘Mighty Mike’s’ recent struggles.  

“But what’s bothering me with Mike at the moment [is], after four nights, he’s minus one in leg difference. 

“And that’s not like Mike. He was always plus ten legs or whatever. So he’s struggling basically with his form. And no one knows why.”  

Though Van Gerwen has fallen short of his usual high standards lately, he has made the final of the World Championship this year.  

World No.3 Van Gerwen also sits fourth in the Premier League having won his first three Quarter-final matches in the tournament.  

The Dutchman beat Luke Littler in week one of the major and averaged a magnificent 105.91 in a 6-5 win.  

And ‘Barney’ was quick to point out Van Gerwen’s encouraging performances against darts’ big names, as he tried to explain his loss of form.  

He said: “But I’m pretty sure if you send him for a job, like playing Luke Littler in the first round of the Premier League, he beat him. 

“Then he should have beaten Luke Humphries as well. He was missing match darts, last week he was missing match darts.  

“And that’s not really Michael. Michael was always a killer. 

“I don’t know what’s going on. I see him often, but what’s really going on with his game, I’m not sure.” 

Six-time major winner Van Barneveld suggested darts’ hectic schedule could be to blame for his fellow countryman’s inconsistency.  

He added: “Maybe [it’s the] set up. We travel a lot. We play a lot. 

“Don’t get me wrong, guys, from Exeter [Night 4] last week, they played one day later. They go straight to the UK Open and play more matches.  

“It’s almost unstoppable at the moment. How the EuroTours get in. 

“It’s really tiring for all the players. And we have to protect them, because the Premier League, EuroTours, ProTours, in all honesty, it’s a little bit insane.” 

Van Gerwen will be targeting a first Premier League final appearance this year as he returns to action against Gerwyn Price in Night Five tonight (Thursday).