Michael van Gerwen’s ex-wife welcomes ‘miracle’ baby with new partner – eight months after split from darts ace

Daphne Govers gives birth to daughter Mila as explosive relationship timeline emerges

Michael van Gerwen’s ex-wife Daphne Govers has welcomed a baby daughter with her new partner Robert, just eight months after her separation from the three-time world champion—describing the pregnancy as a “miracle” given her medical history.

Govers announced the birth on Instagram on January 9, 2026, sharing a photo of her newborn daughter Mila, capping off what has been an extraordinary and tumultuous period for all parties involved.

A ‘Miracle’ Pregnancy

The pregnancy itself came as a shock to Govers, who had required medical assistance to conceive her two older children—Mike and Zoe—with Van Gerwen during their decade-long marriage.

“I didn’t expect it. I was at the hospital with the other two, too,” Govers explained during an interview with Dutch TV programme Shownieuws. “I couldn’t have gotten pregnant naturally. If it does happen, it’ll be a miracle”.

The discovery initially left her reeling. “My world was completely turned upside down. How am I going to handle this? But in the end, it all worked out. It’s more than welcome,” she said.

The timeline raised eyebrows, with Govers due in January—approximately eight months into her pregnancy—while she and Van Gerwen announced their separation around seven months prior in May 2025.

“A Mistake Was Made”

In her candid television interview, Govers openly acknowledged she made “a mistake” during the transition from her marriage. “Of course a mistake was made on my part. Everyone knows that. We don’t have to hide that. I’d rather keep the story private,” she told Shownieuws.

When pressed about Van Gerwen’s reaction to the pregnancy news, Govers was hesitant: “I wouldn’t dare say. I don’t think very happy, but I really don’t know”.

New Partner’s Explosive Confession

In the same television interview, Govers’ new partner Robert made startling admissions about the nature of their relationship and its origins.

Robert revealed the pair had “always clicked” during their lengthy acquaintance prior to becoming romantically involved. “That’s when the spark ignited,” Robert told the programme. “It wasn’t the intention but it happened”.

Most controversially, Robert confessed to “pulling a trick” on the darts star, admitting: “Of course, I pulled that trick on him, and I’m not proud of it”.

He maintained he holds “respect” for Van Gerwen, adding: “We didn’t want to hurt anyone, not Michael, not anyone. It happened. It turned out a little differently than expected”.

Robert acknowledged the awkwardness of his position, particularly given his regular encounters with Van Gerwen through custody arrangements for the former couple’s children. “I find it difficult. But hey, I chose my own happiness, and he’s welcome here,” Robert added.

Van Gerwen’s “Worst Year”

The 36-year-old darts legend announced their separation back in May with “great sadness” after more than ten years together, marking the beginning of what he would later describe as his darkest period.

Speaking to Dutch outlet AD, Van Gerwen labelled 2025 his “worst year.” “I couldn’t write this script myself, so I’ll have to deal with it in a way I think is right,” the Dutchman said.

Following the split, Van Gerwen stepped away from tournaments and took the summer off to process everything, attending festivals like Tomorrowland and enjoying time in Ibiza with his children.

“You could just sit around and grieve all day, but that’s pointless. So you do fun things, take time for yourself,” he explained, attempting to maintain normalcy for Mike and Zoe amid the upheaval.

The personal turmoil coincided with a challenging period professionally. Van Gerwen failed to win a single Premier League nightly title in 2025 and missed out on the O2 Arena finals entirely—a stark contrast to his usual dominance.

Competitive Fire Remains

Despite the emotional devastation, Van Gerwen has shown remarkable resilience in returning to competition.

Competing at the 2025/26 World Championship at Alexandra Palace, Van Gerwen made clear he’s determined to put his “worst year” behind him. The Dutch star was bullish about his prospects, brushing off questions about potential rivals Luke Littler and Luke Humphries. “I don’t care about Luke and Luke at this moment. I just need to concentrate myself on my own performance. I can’t meet them until the semi-finals and final anyway”.

Though he ultimately fell short of winning a fourth world title, Van Gerwen showed flashes of his old brilliance and has carried that form into the 2026 Premier League campaign, where he claimed his first nightly victory in nearly two years with a win over Gian van Veen in Newcastle.

Moving Forward

Govers used her television interview to push back against speculation circulating on social media, stating that not everything posted online about their situation was accurate.

She indicated she believes she remains on friendly terms with her ex-husband, though the reality of co-parenting while he regularly encounters her new partner and their newborn child will undoubtedly present challenges.

For Van Gerwen, the birth of Mila represents another painful chapter in a saga that has tested him beyond anything his illustrious sporting career ever prepared him for. The man who has conquered the darts world three times now faces the personal challenge of navigating shared custody while his ex-wife builds a new family with another man.

As the 2026 season progresses, Van Gerwen continues to channel his pain into performance on the oche. Whether the birth of his ex-wife’s “miracle baby” will provide closure or open fresh wounds remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Michael van Gerwen’s journey back to the top of world darts will require emotional resilience to match his legendary talent with the arrows.