VAN GERWEN VOWS TO BE LEANER AND MEANER

MIGHTY Michael van Gerwen vows he is now leaner and meaner to be a big hit again.

The three-times World Champion secured victory at the Bahrain Darts Masters to claim a 17th World Series title on his 50th appearance.

Van Gerwen, 36, had a horrendous 2025 as he dealt with divorce and his dad battling cancer.

But the defiant Dutchman has shown remarkable resilience to re-invent himself and now looks a threat again to the Lukes, Littler and Humphries.

Asked if Van Gerwen 2.0 is going to be more dangerous than ever, he replied: “100 per cent. I’m not where I want to be yet. I want to lose another one-half stone, but take it easy, not too quickly. I feel good. I feel comfortable.

“I’m enjoying my life as well and you need to find the right balance and I’ve said this in the past so many times, but it’s not that easy and to now actually win a tournament as well, it’s a nice kick-off for the year.

“We all know there’s a lot of young people coming up. Sometimes I feel like an old man on the tour, but I’m only 36 years old.

“I’ve been there already, but as long as I keep improving myself and try to be and deliver the good Michael on the stage all the time and keep trying to do a little bit more, I think that’s the only thing I can do.”

Fitness is a vital element of the sport now and van Gerwen added: “I think it’s really important. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been doing this for a very long time and I only wish the other guys so many flights I already had in my life. But that’s the way it is.

“The Tour gets busier all the time, so you need to make sure you also look after yourself and it’s not always that easy because you play late at night. It’s different circumstances.

“We all know where darts came from and where it is now. We’re making incredible steps, but you all need to try to do a step extra and that is what I’m trying to do for myself as well.”

Van Gerwen was outstanding in Bahrain. He beat Gian van Veen in the Final after shock quarter-final exits for Littler and Humphries and said: “I felt good, otherwise you also don’t win games like this because you have to perform on the highest level here because you play against the top players.

“All the top players are here, so they’re not coming here for a dinky-toy tournament. Of course, you want to win here. I never won this tournament before. The first time I was here, I lost the final. I was runner-up. So now I’m happy to win the big trophy.

“All the seeded players went through to the final day, so you need to make sure you keep battling and I’m glad I was able to hold my focus and to keep progressing. I think that was the most important part.

“I’m not coming to Bahrain to not perform. That’s the only thing I love about the darts, playing on the big stages and winning tournaments. It’s the best feeling you can have. It gives you joy. It gives you pleasure and from there on I think I can show a lot more.

“Sometimes when things don’t go your way, you need to keep believing in your ability. And that’s what I always do. And of course, I went through a rough period in my life, but that’s the way it is. You need to make sure you keep being focused and I think that’s what I showed today. Under any circumstances, I can do anything possible.”

Van Gerwen now heads for Monday’s Saudi Arabia Masters looking to do a Middle East double and said: “That would be nice. It happened before, but I can’t remember when.”

Image by TAYLOR LANNING.