VAN GERWEN DETERMINED TO BOUNCE BACK STRONG AT WORLD MATCHPLAY
21/07/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN admits he needs to “show some character” as he looks to get his season back on track at the World Matchplay.
World No.3 Van Gerwen has endured a mixed 2025 after reaching the World Championship final but struggled in the Premier League, missing out on the play-offs for just the second time in the last 13 years.
Three-times World Champ Van Gerwen won the German Grand Prix in April after suffering a freak neck injury earlier that month but announced in May he had split with long-time partner Daphne Govers.
The Dutchman returned at the US Masters at the end of June, when he lost in the quarter-finals to Gerwyn Price, and he was defeated in the same round by Rob Cross earlier this month in the Poland Masters.
Van Gerwen says he wants to “look after myself” away from the oche but “it would be fantastic” to go on a strong run this week in Blackpool after a difficult spell.
He said: “Last week I practised quite often.
“I had a busy period at home, so I had to make sure to juggle here and there a little bit, but now I’m feeling good and I think that’s the most important thing. I want to play and that’s the start of success.
“I didn’t play a lot of tournaments recently. I want to know where I stand in practice. Things have gone quite well, to be fair, but practice doesn’t mean anything.
“I’ve been in tough positions in my life before and now it’s also time to show some character. How am I going to bounce back and things like that? But it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. We all know that.”
47-times major winner Van Gerwen faces Raymond van Barneveld in round one at the Winter Gardens.
The pair have not met since January 2024, when Van Gerwen narrowly beat ‘Barney’ 6-5 to take his record against his compatriot to 10 wins in the last 12 matches.
He added: “Raymond has been on the circuit for a long time, and we all know what he’s capable of.
“But you need to look to yourself, and you need to make sure you play by yourself, to make sure you’re going to win that one.
“It’s a good match for me because no one has to motivate me against Raymond. That’s one good thing. I don’t want to lose to anyone, especially not to Raymond, it’s as simple as that.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
