‘He didn’t even know who he was playing darts against’

• Thierry Boon

  at the World Darts Championships in London

Michael van Gerwen had completely lost it in recent months. The three-time world champion, who dominated the darts world for years, has fallen into a hole that he needs to get out of very quickly. Because today the World Cup starts for him, with a match against James Hurrell.

“At one point he didn’t know the draw of a tournament. Two days later he had to play against someone, but he didn’t know who. That sounds funny, but then you’re not 100 percent involved with it. That has to come back. He knows: I’m a professional, everything has to give way.”

This example from friend and colleague Vincent van der Voort shows that it is two to twelve for Van Gerwen. He immediately flew out of the last two television tournaments. The last time he won a major that counts for the ranking was more than two years ago.

These are results that do not match the status and talent of the three-time world champion.

“Of course I’ve had a lot of knocks this year,” Van Gerwen agrees. “But I also had other years in which things went less well and I got over that. I am a positive person. I don’t care much about negativity. That doesn’t really bother me.”

At the same time, ‘Mighty Mike’ realizes that, given the crisis in form, he has to work harder than ever. “The preparation for the World Cup is more intensive than usual. It comes less naturally, so I train even more than usual.”

He receives help from Van der Voort, who is taking a darts sabbatical after a difficult period. “It’s mainly a lot of talking,” says 48-year-old Van der Voort, himself a two-time quarter-finalist at the World Cup in Alexandra Palace, about the collaboration with Van Gerwen.

The two have known each other for years and get along extremely well. Van der Voort, thirteen years his senior, serves as a mirror for his fellow countryman if necessary. Halfway through an already disappointing year, the two had an open and honest conversation.

“I asked Michael whether he thought it was that good or whether he wanted to become the best again,” says Van der Voort. “If you go for the latter, you have to really believe it, then you have to feel it. Because you also have to pay a price for it: doing less fun things and training more.”

Van der Voort sees better than anyone else what can be improved at Van Gerwen. His experience surrounding the matches, for example. “He used to be a lot more enthusiastic, he was busy stealing the show. Now it’s just about winning a match, nothing more. The joy of playing has to be returned.”

Yet Van Gerwen, who won his last world title in ‘Ally Pally’ five years ago, says he still enjoys the game. “I sometimes ask myself: am I still having fun? Then I say yes. I still enjoy everything I do.”

In addition to the battle with himself, the Dutchman also has to compete against reigning world champion Luke Humphries and 17-year-old vice world champion Luke Littler in London. The Lukes are making by far the best impression this year.

“They are sitting on that big pink cloud, but that will also evaporate at some point,” says Van Gerwen. “But you don’t know when. It is clear that they have had a fantastic season.”

Littler won the Grand Slam of Darts in mid-November. A week later, Humphries won the Players Championship Finals, beating Littler in the final. They are therefore seen by bookmakers as favorites for the World Cup.

Yet defending champion Humphries refuses to write off Van Gerwen. “He is still one of the best players. His form may be a bit less beforehand, but Michael is always there at a World Cup,” says the 29-year-old Englishman.

“He’s not having a good year, but I think he’s keen to prove the rest wrong. If I reach the final, I expect to face Van Gerwen because he’s on the other side of the schedule. He knows, unlike many others, how to win a World Cup.”

The question is whether Van Gerwen can join the Lukes. “If Michael is good, he is still the best in the world in my eyes,” Van der Voort is hopeful. “He must be a bit lucky that he can grow in the tournament.”

In any case, the sacred fire is still present at ‘the wrecking ball from Vlijmen’, Van der Voort believes. “He’s ambitious enough. I know it hurts him when it’s about people other than him.”

While in the weeks before the World Cup it was normally a matter of staying fit and in shape for Van Gerwen, there was now a lot of uncertainty. But the board is round, anything can happen at a World Cup and in ‘Ally Pally’ experience counts just a little more than on other stages.

“You have to have the feeling that you can do it. And I think I can,” said Van Gerwen. “Where does that come from? I just have that belief. And I base that on talent and confidence.”