‘It gets on my t***’ – Michael van Gerwen admits personal woes are getting better of him but stands behind ‘my choice’

 

Dutch star reveals he was ‘very close’ to pulling out of World Masters as private struggles continue to mount

Michael van Gerwen has delivered his most candid assessment yet of the personal turmoil affecting his darts career, admitting the relentless scrutiny of his private life has reached breaking point while revealing he came “very close” to withdrawing from the World Masters.

The three-time world champion opened up to SportsBoom following his drought-ending victory at the Premier League opener in Newcastle, confirming the devastating “sledgehammer blow” described by close friend Vincent van der Voort had indeed pushed him to the brink of pulling out of competition entirely.

“Very Close” to Withdrawal

When asked directly if it was true he nearly pulled out of the World Masters in Milton Keynes, Van Gerwen responded simply: “Very close”.

The revelation came after Van der Voort had told the Darts Draait Door podcast that his friend “was hit by a real sledgehammer in his private life,” adding: “This made it a truly miserable week for him”.

Van Gerwen explained that regardless of his decision, he knew scrutiny was unavoidable. “You always need to stand behind your choices. I had a few things going on. If I wasn’t going, people would’ve had questions, if I play like s**t people have questions,” he told SportsBoom.

The Dutchman ultimately decided to compete but suffered a shocking 3-1 first-round defeat to Damon Heta, averaging just 88—well below his usual standards. In hindsight, Van Gerwen believes he may have made the wrong call, but stood by it regardless.

“It Gets on My T***”

Most strikingly, Van Gerwen revealed the toll that constant questions about his private life are taking on his mental wellbeing.

“100%,” he replied when asked if he wants the noise to die down. “Of course, it gets on my t**ts sometimes to be fair. Every day, every day I get messages, people asking me things about it”.

“At some point I’ve had enough, let me live my life with my kids. Simple as that,” he concluded.

The 36-year-old’s frustration is understandable given the cascade of personal difficulties he’s endured over the past year, from his separation from wife Daphne Govers in May 2025 to the subsequent revelation that she had entered a new relationship and was expecting a child with her new partner Robert—a baby girl named Mila who was born in January 2026.

Still Working Through It

When pressed on his current emotional state, Van Gerwen offered only a glimpse: “It’s not okay now, but I’m sorting it. It’s a private issue”.

Despite the ongoing hardship, Van Gerwen remains cautiously hopeful that the worst is behind him. “I hope things get better, but for it to get worser than it was, it’s not possible,” he said.

The comment speaks volumes about just how difficult the past 12 months have been for a man who has dominated world darts for the better part of a decade but now finds himself navigating uncharted personal waters.

Impact on Performance

Following his Premier League victory in Newcastle—his first nightly win in the competition for more than a year—Van Gerwen admitted: “I had a lot of problems at the World Masters at the weekend. There is still a lot to work at, I know I can do better than this, but this gives you confidence. Winning games is the best medicine to perform better”.

“It is always nice to respond well. In the Masters I had some issues at home so I had to deal with that but to bounce back with a win means a lot to me. It is a nice start and gives me confidence because it is going to be a long 16 weeks,” he added.

The Dutchman failed to win a single Premier League nightly title during the entire 2025 campaign, finishing fifth in the table—a stark decline for the seven-time Premier League champion who once dominated the tournament.

“My Worst Year Ever”

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the 2026 World Championship, Van Gerwen had been equally frank: “I have had a tough year, probably my worst year ever”.

The divorce’s impact extended beyond household responsibilities, resulting in Van Gerwen missing the World Cup of Darts and highlighting how personal circumstances have disrupted his competitive schedule.

Van Gerwen hasn’t won the World Championship since 2019—a seven-year drought that weighs heavily on a player who once seemed destined to challenge Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles. He’s reached three finals since but lost to Peter Wright, Michael Smith, and most recently Luke Littler.

Earning Respect Through Dignity

Despite his own struggles, Van Gerwen has earned widespread praise for how he’s conducted himself throughout the ordeal, particularly his decision to publicly defend his ex-wife when she faced online criticism following her television interview on Shownieuws.

Former Olympic cyclist Leontien van Moorsel expressed appreciation for Van Gerwen’s stance: “Michael really protected her. If my man had done that to me, I certainly wouldn’t have protected him. But that does credit to Michael, because they have two children together. I thought that was real class. When something like this happens and, in such a short time, you protect your ex like that, I think you truly do it for the kids”.

Physical Transformation

Beyond his private situation, Van Gerwen is also working on himself physically. In recent months, he has undergone a clear physical transformation and lost more than twenty kilos. Beyond darts, he found a new outlet in padel.

“I need to work on myself a little, which is sensible. And on the padel court you meet lots of new people and it’s much more sociable than the gym. Now I also take the occasional lesson. And even if someone is much worse than the rest, they can still join in. I really enjoy it,” Van Gerwen explained.

Moving Forward

As Van Gerwen continues his Premier League campaign, the question remains whether he can channel his personal pain into professional success. History suggests that the best players often produce their finest moments when facing adversity, and the Dutchman’s Newcastle victory hints that he may yet rediscover his championship form.

For now, though, Van Gerwen’s message is clear: he wants to be judged on his darts, not his private life. He’s standing by his choices—even the ones that didn’t work out—and asking for the space to rebuild both his game and his life with his children.

“People know what I’m capable of and I don’t have to give away signals or whatever,” Van Gerwen stated. “Everyone still wants to beat me, but more importantly, I still want to beat them and I still want to face all the challenges that comes on my path. So it’s still going to be a long journey”.

Whether that journey leads back to world championship glory remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Michael van Gerwen has already proven himself a champion in how he’s handling the most difficult chapter of his life.