Michael van Gerwen reveals what he will never let happen again after Luke Littler win
The Dutch hero ended two years without a significant title and has made it clear on one thing after capturing trophy
Resurgent Michael van Gerwen has warned rivals he’ll never again go two years without a major PDC title.
The Dutch star emerged from a tough period off the oche which has involved divorce and his father’s illness with a sizzling return to form to grab the World Series of Darts title.
Van Gerwen admits he had to look in the mirror when things weren’t going well on the stage during the two-year winless period and right the wrongs.
In front of an adoring home public in Amsterdam, he did just that with a stunning win over Luke Littler in the Final to win a premier trophy for the first time since his success in the event in 2023.
Assessing the drought, Van Gerwen said: “No, that’s not going to happen again. I think I quit darts before that. A little bit too long for a player like me, it's a while ago. But you always need to look yourself in the mirror.
“When things aren’t great you have to tell yourself, but when things are good, like this, I can really enjoy them. I think that’s also really important.
“We all know where I’m coming from. I didn’t have the most easy patch in my life, but then to do it in front of your own crowd, home soil, it gives a lot of energy. It’s amazing.
“I also played well. I beat the number one in the world, the number two in the world, the man of form, Josh Rock. The moments when I had to step up, I did it and that gives you also the joy to play the next games. That’s what you want to show.
"It’s not that easy, especially with the way I’ve been playing in the last few months, then things sometimes get a little bit tougher, but you always need to believe in your own ability, and that’s what I’m doing.
"I feel great. Otherwise, you can’t win a tournament like this. It gives you a lot of confidence, but don’t make such big steps because I’m still far away from where I can be and we all know that, but this is a lovely start.
“I feel fantastic, to be fair. I had to battle quite hard to show what I did and in the end it was getting a little bit tougher. It gave me so much joy, the crowd, the people around me, everything. And then of course when you play good darts it helps as well.
“To beat the guys like Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Josh in one day, it’s not the worst performance to be fair, but whoever comes to your path you have to beat them and you need to make sure you’re always prepared.
“From here on I think I can show more. You need to believe in yourself and I think I can do it. There’s so many big tournaments coming up and I need to make sure I’m ready for them. I’ve never been away.”
Van Gerwen was able to savour the win with daughter Zoe on the stage after it was done and he said: “I miss my son as well, but he’s a little bit too young. My daughter is a little bit more independent, she can do her own thing, but that’s the way it is.
"Tomorrow is school day again, so I need to make sure I get home in time and make sure she goes to bed, but it’s a lovely feeling. Back to winning ways, that’s the way you want to be. Keep believing in yourself and everything is possible.”
Van Gerwen also became the first man to win a PDC title beating both Littler and Humphries on the way and he responded: “Was I the first one? I will be the second and the third one as well.”