VAN GERWEN BACKSTAGE BUST-UP REVEALED
12/05/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
KIM HUYBRECHTS has revealed a crazy backstage bust-up that saw Michael van Gerwen throw a rival over a TABLE.
World No. 48 Huybrechts recalled the story when appearing on the Darts Draait Door podcast.
The Belgian ace explained how he and three-time World Champion Van Gerwen had been warming up ahead of a tournament with Rowby-John Rodriguez.
He claimed: “It all started when Michael and I were practising together with the Austrian player Rowby-John Rodriguez before a tournament.
“Rowby was winding Michael up by throwing very slowly. Michael was due to play his match soon, so he asked him to speed up.
“But instead, Rowby provoked him even more by throwing even slower and chatting to me in between.
“Michael probably should’ve just gone to another board to continue his warm-up, but that was never going to happen.
“He’s a stubborn guy. It escalated into a confrontation and they ended up nose to nose. Michael used a bit too much brute force and flung Rowby straight over the table.”
The incident itself happened in front of several players, while MVG had ended up throwing ‘Little John’ over a table with drinks belonging to around ten players.
One of these included Van Gerwen’s close friend Vincent van der Voort, who was more concerned about his spilt drink than the fight.
Huybrechts added: “The first thing Vincent said was to ask who was going to pay for his drink.
“Officials stepped in, and Vincent even tapped one on the shoulder to ask how they were going to sort out his drink.
“Rowby-John was lying somewhere in the middle of it all and everyone had to hold Michael back.
“I was standing there, stunned.”
Van Gerwen returns to action today at the Players Championship 15 in Hildesheim.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
