Michael van Gerwen withdraws from Nordic Darts Masters; Premier League player replaces him in Copenhagen
Michael van Gerwen Withdraws from 2025 Nordic Darts Masters, Replaced by Premier League Star in Copenhagen
Michael van Gerwen, the three-time PDC world champion and darts icon, has withdrawn from the 2025 Mr Vegas Nordic Darts Masters, scheduled for June 6-7, 2025, at Forum Copenhagen, citing personal reasons following his recent separation from his wife, Daphne Govers. The announcement, reported by *Dartsnews.com* and echoed in posts on X, marks another absence for the Dutchman, who also pulled out of the Dutch Darts Championship in May due to the same personal challenges. Replacing Van Gerwen is fellow Premier League star Rob Cross, the 2018 world champion, who steps in to join the eight-player PDC lineup facing Nordic and Baltic representatives in this World Series event.
Van Gerwen’s withdrawal is a significant blow to the tournament, where he won the inaugural title in 2021 against Fallon Sherrock. The “Green Machine,” known for his record seven Premier League titles and 47 PDC majors, has faced a turbulent 2025. After reaching the World Championship final, losing 7-3 to Luke Littler, Van Gerwen struggled in the Premier League, missing the play-offs for only the second time in 13 years after a 6-2 loss to Nathan Aspinall on Night 16. His earlier withdrawal from the Berlin Premier League night due to a shoulder injury, reported by *Metro News* and *The Mirror*, and the Dutch Darts Championship for personal reasons, per *Sky Sports*, signal a challenging period for the world No. 3. “It is with great sadness that I inform you that Daphne and I have decided to end our relationship,” Van Gerwen stated on X on May 24, 2025, asking for privacy and confirming his absence from upcoming events.
Rob Cross, nicknamed “Voltage,” fills the void, bringing his own pedigree to Copenhagen. Fresh off a World Series title at the 2025 Dutch Darts Masters, where he defeated Stephen Bunting 8-5, Cross is a formidable replacement. His 2025 season has been mixed, with a second-round exit to Scott Williams at the World Championship but a semi-final run at the 2024 Premier League. Cross faces Sweden’s Oskar Lukasiak in the first round, per *Yardbarker*, setting up a potential quarter-final clash with Littler or Gerwyn Price. The PDC lineup also includes world No. 1 Luke Humphries, defending champion Peter Wright, and Littler, who takes on Sweden’s Viktor Tingstrom.
Littler, the 18-year-old sensation, expressed disappointment at Van Gerwen’s absence, telling *Darts World Magazine*, “It’s not the same without MVG, but I’m here to win.” Fans on X, like @DartsNews02, lamented Van Gerwen’s withdrawal but praised Cross’s inclusion, noting, “Voltage is a class act to step up.” The Nordic Darts Masters, broadcast on ITV4 and PDCTV, features regional talents like Latvia’s Madars Razma and Denmark’s Benjamin Reus, adding local flavor to the event. As Cross aims to capitalize on this opportunity, the darts world sends support to Van Gerwen, hoping for his swift return to the oche.
