VAN GERWEN WARNED OVER PARTYING
16/04/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has been told he is acting “like a 20-year-old going completely wild” after his boozy title celebrations.
Mighty Mike skipped this week’s Players Championship double-header in Wigan to party following PSV’s Eredivisie triumph.
The world No.4 was filmed wearing a bucket hat and singing as he danced late into the night.
Former pro and close friend Vincent van der Voort could not resist a cheeky dig at the three-time world champion.
He told the Darts Draait Door Podcast: “Now I have to watch what I say, otherwise I’ll have his fan club after me saying it’s fine and the lad should enjoy himself.
“I sent him one message after I saw all those videos of him. I told him he was beyond embarrassment and that I had two pieces of advice.
“One: ‘You should never sing again,’ and two: ‘Never wear that swim cap again.
“Come on, that’s not on. But he had an absolutely brilliant night. I’m fine with that. You can’t say he doesn’t enjoy a party. He’s there anytime, anywhere.
“Despite going through a tough time, he’s also having the time of his life right now.”
The former UK Open finalist believes Van Gerwen is making up for lost time after years of total dedication on darts.
He added: “You shouldn’t forget that from the age of fifteen or sixteen he was only focused on darts.
“He never went out with his friends, was always thinking about the next tournament and the pressure that came with it. Now he has time to really let off steam, something he hasn’t experienced all that time.
“You have to hope this phase doesn’t last too long. He’s behaving a bit like a twenty-year-old going completely wild.
“At some point you hope he’ll think that darts is his number one priority. But he’s enjoying himself now, and I can grant him that.”
MVG returns to action this evening on home soil in Rotterdam, where he faces Jonny Clayton on Night 11 of the Premier League.
Van Gerwen has struggled at the venue in recent years, with his last win there coming back in 2022.
The Dutchman currently sits fourth in the table and is four points clear of fellow compatriot Gian van Veen.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
