Michael van Gerwen has never shied away from controversy — and as he prepares to face Beau Greaves at the 2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts, an old quote of his has once again taken centre stage. The Dutchman’s competitive streak and trademark confidence have always defined his career, but this time, they’ve reignited debate around gender and respect in darts.
Back in 2018, long before the rise of teenage sensation Beau Greaves, van Gerwen was asked about the growing inclusion of female players in the PDC World Championship. His answer was pure MVG — blunt, unapologetic, and fiercely competitive.
“I wouldn’t like to lose to a woman,” he said. “But I don’t like losing to anyone.”
At the time, the quote was seen less as dismissive and more as a reflection of the Dutchman’s relentless will to win. Still, with Greaves now one of the sport’s most talked-about figures — and potentially his next opponent on the Grand Slam stage — those words have found fresh life in headlines and fan debates across social media.
From Quote to Context
When van Gerwen made that statement, women’s darts was just beginning to push into the mainstream. Fallon Sherrock’s 2019 World Championship breakthrough was still a year away, and Greaves was barely a teenager competing in youth events. Van Gerwen, already a three-time world champion, was speaking from the position of a dominant world No. 1 — a man whose aura of invincibility defined an era.
Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape looks completely different. Greaves, now 21, has become a trailblazer in her own right. She’s dominated the WDF circuit, smashed scoring records, and proved she can compete toe-to-toe with the men. Her inclusion in the Grand Slam group stage alongside van Gerwen has created one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the tournament.
For many fans, the resurfacing of that quote has added fuel to an already-explosive narrative: can Beau Greaves, the most naturally gifted woman in the sport’s history, take down one of the game’s greatest ever champions — a man who once admitted he’d “hate” to lose to a woman?
What It Really Means
To van Gerwen’s credit, he has always backed female inclusion in the sport. In later interviews, he clarified that his comment was not about gender, but about his refusal to accept defeat of any kind. “I don’t like losing. To anyone. Man or woman,” he told Dutch media in 2021, emphasising that he respected what Sherrock, Greaves, and others were doing for darts.
Those who know van Gerwen understand that his remark was born from ego, not exclusion. His entire brand is built on supreme self-belief — the same fire that took him from a teenage prodigy to one of the sport’s most decorated champions. Losing simply doesn’t fit into his worldview.
But for Greaves, that competitive arrogance is exactly the challenge she thrives on. Calm, composed, and clinical, she’s been quietly rewriting perceptions of women’s darts for years. Her averages regularly top 100, her checkout percentages rival elite PDC players, and she’s proven time and again that her game isn’t about making up the numbers — it’s about making history.
The Grand Slam Narrative
The 2025 Grand Slam of Darts, starting November 8 in Wolverhampton, is set to deliver fireworks. Greaves’ inclusion in van Gerwen’s group guarantees a blockbuster match, one that transcends sport and speaks to a bigger story — how far darts has come, and how much further it can go.
For van Gerwen, it’s another chance to silence critics and prove he’s still among the elite despite a turbulent few seasons. For Greaves, it’s a golden opportunity to send a message that women aren’t just capable of competing — they’re capable of winning.
Fans are already dubbing it “The Statement Match.” If Greaves pulls off the upset, it won’t just be a personal victory — it would symbolise the sport’s evolution and challenge decades of gender-based stereotypes within darts. And if van Gerwen wins, it will be another reminder of why he remains one of the fiercest competitors in sporting history.
Either way, both players carry something to prove.
One wants to protect a legacy.
The other wants to reshape it.
As the lights go up in Wolverhampton, Michael van Gerwen’s 2018 quote will echo through the arena — not as a sign of arrogance, but as a test of truth. Because when he stands across from Beau Greaves, it won’t be about gender, history, or headlines.
It’ll be about darts, pressure, and who can deliver when it matters most.
And for once, “The Power” might not be the only name commanding respect on the oche.
