VAN GERWEN PULLS OUT OF PROTOUR
13/05/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has withdrawn from the Players Championship 16 in Hildesheim.
Three-time World champion Van Gerwen exited at the first hurdle of Event 15 yesterday after losing 6-5 to Dominic Gruellich.
World No. 3 Van Gerwen suffered his SIXTH first round loss on this year’s ProTour.
And according to Darts Orakel a quarter of all MVG’s round one losses in the Players Championship since the start of 2018, have come in the first five months of 2025.
His compatriot and close friend Vincent van der Voort is a little concerned and admitted the “belief isn’t there” now for the 47-time major winner.
He said on the Darts Draait Podcast: “Gruellich made it to a Pro Tour final and is a solid player.
“There are no weak players in this field.
“When I see how things are going, the belief just isn’t there.
“His presence is lacking, there’s no aggression or passion in his game.
“It’s just about throwing at the board and hoping for the best.”
Despite the concerns, Van Gerwen reassured fans he still has the “fire in my belly.”
He revealed: “I still have the fire in my belly. The anger is still there when you don’t perform 100 per cent.
“When you face the past, you’ve your back against the future. You’ve to look to the future.
“I changed darts for a reason. To get my mind off things. When you aren’t 100 per cent comfortable, it’s a nice thing, but it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to.
“It’s not the most pleasant moment in my career. I’ll never give up. I’ll fight for everything. I know it’s still there. You don’t lose talent like that.”
The Dutch star’s form means he is also at risk of missing out on qualifying for the finals night of the Premier League.
‘Mighty Mike’ currently holds the final spot in the top four, but he is just one point ahead of Nathan Aspinall with only two nights remaining in the competition.
Van Gerwen will face ‘The Asp’ this Thursday on Night 15 of the Premier League and will be hoping to achieve his first nightly win.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
