Michael van Gerwen makes joke about his divorce in funny chat with Premier League Darts rival Gian van Veen

Michael van Gerwen had fans laughing after joking about his divorce during a lighthearted chat with rival Gian van Veen.

The Dutch darts star split from his wife Daphne Govers last year, a period that coincided with a run of poor performances and a few off-stage controversies. But now, at 36, he seems to be turning a corner—showing he can even laugh about the experience.

While filming a promotional video for Cinch UK, the two players sat together in a car answering fan questions. When asked about his best dish, Van Gerwen revealed he enjoys cooking pasta—especially spaghetti—as well as a good roast dinner.

Van Veen then cheekily asked if he cooks for himself. With a grin, Van Gerwen fired back: “I have to.” He burst out laughing before adding, “When you’re a divorced man, you have to cook for your kids!”

Despite the joke, Van Gerwen has been open about how difficult the split was. He and Govers had been together for over a decade and share two young children. Their separation was announced in May, and less than a year later, Govers welcomed a child with her new partner.

Still, Van Gerwen appears to be in better spirits. When asked about his most-used emoji, he joked that things have changed recently. “These days? It’s the winking kiss emoji,” he said. “Before it was the crying one—now it’s the kisses.”

Fans quickly reacted to the moment, praising his honesty and humor. One commenter called him “just a funny bloke,” while others said it’s impossible not to like him, with many highlighting both players as among their current favorites.