Pressure? Michael Van Gerwen Wants More of It as He Hunts Fourth World Crown

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen is entering the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship from a very different vantage point, but he knows it.

For the best part of a decade, the Dutchman arrived at Alexandra Palace as the man to beat, a relentless force whose presence alone forced rivals to raise their game. 

This time, however, the spotlight shines brightest on darts’ modern power duo, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, who have shared an astonishing 12 televised titles between them this season while Van Gerwen has managed just one.

It’s not where he’s used to being, yet he makes no excuses.

“I know I didn’t have my best year; it’s been a tough year on and off the oche. But still this time last year I think my form was worse and I still managed to reach the final,” Van Gerwen told SportsBoom.co.uk. 

“I need to take the positives, if you go into the worlds negative, it’s only going to work against you.”

Van Gerwen’s run to the 2025 final, where he pushed the then 17-year-old sensation Littler before falling short, proved that even when perceived as vulnerable, he remains one of the most dangerous men in the sport. 

But the Dutchman accepts a shifting landscape: for now, he’s the hunter, not the hunted. And that’s a challenge he’s more than willing to embrace.

“It’s always nice to chase someone, it’s easier isn’t it. It’s easier than being hunted.”

“I have to face the reality now that I’m not the favourite. I have to step it up, simple as that.”

Has he been overlooked? Possibly. Does he care? Not particularly.

“That’s for the people to judge. I know what I’m capable of when I’m sharp, I can do good things. I can still get to that level, I know that.”

Pressure is not the enemy 

Talk of van Gerwen going under the radar has bubbled throughout the build-up to what could be the most competitive World Championship in years. 

For most players, that tag is a blessing, reduced scrutiny, reduced expectation. For MVG, it almost sounds insulting.

The Dutchman’s response is pure, undiluted Van Gerwen: direct, unfiltered, and rooted in self-belief.

“They are scared. I don’t mind at all, because they all still talk about me. They don’t like the pressure, but I’ve had the pressure for 20 years, and it doesn’t bother me.”

Is that pressure still the spark that unlocks his best performances?

“I hope so. It has done in the past, hopefully it will in the future.”

A different preparation: both personally and professionally

Van Gerwen also acknowledged one major change to his preparation this year, life at home looks different now.

Earlier in 2025 he announced his split from long-term wife Daphne Govers, bringing a new balance of parenting and practice into daily routine. 

It hasn’t held him back, he insists, but it is a reality he has adjusted to.

“My life is a bit different now because I used to have a wife who helped me with things. But now when I have the kids I have to look after, so I just to adjust myself a little bit. That’s the only thing.”

For a man who built dynasties on rhythm, repetition, and regimented discipline, such a shift could unsettle many. 

Van Gerwen’s tone, though, remains calm, reflective even. Perhaps adversity has sharpened him, not softened him.

MVG calls for ranking reform

The 2026 World Championship carries unprecedented weight, not just emotionally, but financially. 

With £1 million awaiting the winner, the gap between Ally Pally glory and every other major tournament is wider than ever before. Some fear that a single win could lock the rankings for a year, leaving the rest of the calendar almost irrelevant.

Van Gerwen agrees something must change.

“We all know the Worlds is the most important one, but it’s not even a comparison anymore.”

“If you ask me my honest opinion, they should have a point system. I say it every year, but I’m not the organisation.”

His belief is clear: the World Championship should matter most, but not too much. Ranking fairness, he argues, is essential for the sport’s growth.