Michael van Gerwen is determined to turn a difficult 2025 into a fresh start by chasing a fourth World Darts Championship in 2026. Despite a year he describes as his worst, he finished 2025 with a notable high — winning the World Series Finals, beating Luke Littler in the final after victories over Josh Rock in the semis and Luke Humphries in the quarters.
Off the oche, however, the year has been heavy. A marriage breakdown and its aftermath forced Van Gerwen to miss events such as the World Cup of Darts and disrupted his routine and focus. He says the personal changes have required adjustments, especially since he is now the primary carer for his children and they are his first priority.
On the competitive front, the landscape has shifted. Long a benchmark for others, Van Gerwen now finds himself behind the likes of Luke Humphries and Luke Littler in the rankings, sitting third in the world. He accepts that role and draws strength from pressure rather than being undermined by it, pointing out that he has played under expectations for two decades and can use that experience to his advantage.
Van Gerwen admits it has been a long wait since his last world title in 2019; he has reached three world finals since then, losing to Peter Wright, Michael Smith and Luke Littler. Still, he remains confident in his ability to hit top form when it matters, believing he can recapture the level that brought him multiple major wins and aim for the sport’s biggest prize once again in 2026.