Simon O'Connor/PDC

'He just had to look at the board and the darts were in' - Michael van Gerwen shows flashes of old self in Finland exhibition

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | Last updated Jul 10, 2025 10:49 AM ET

Michael van Gerwen is no longer the untouchable titan of darts he once was, but over the weekend in Finland, the Dutchman offered a timely reminder that his best still ranks among the very best.

It wasn’t on a major PDC stage, but at an exhibition event in Finland where Van Gerwen lit up the oche, producing flashes of vintage brilliance to win the tournament in style.

Among those most impressed was long-time friend and fellow pro Vincent van der Voort, who also featured in the event.

“Michael won the night and played exceptionally well,” Van der Voort told the Darts Draait Door podcast. “It was miles better than in Poland – that really was a low point. I travelled with him, and in the practice room he looked fine, but once he got on stage, he was well below his usual level.”

That Polish ‘low point’ came at the Poland Darts Masters in Gliwice, where Van Gerwen edged past Pero Ljubic in a nervy opener before being comfortably dispatched by Rob Cross in the second round. The match never came to life, and Van Gerwen looked off the pace throughout.

Just days later in Finland, the mood – and the performance – were transformed. In the final, Van Gerwen dismantled Gerwyn Price 5-1 with a staggering 108 average, including a show-stopping 132 finish via bull, bull, double 16. “He just had to look at the board and the darts were in,” Van der Voort said admiringly.

However, while the performance served as a welcome confidence boost, Van der Voort pointed to a worrying trend in Van Gerwen’s game – the contrast between his form on non-televised stages versus the big PDC TV tournaments. “Maybe it’s the pressure, or a lack of confidence – who knows?” he said. “You can see in the practice room that it’s still there. But on the big stage, in front of the cameras, it’s just not coming out at the moment.”

Van Gerwen only recently returned to the circuit after a month-long break following the public announcement of his separation from wife Daphne in late May. Since then, he’s struggled to find rhythm, falling at the second-round stage in both of his World Series appearances since returning.

As for Van der Voort, there was little personal joy in Finland. He lost narrowly to Robert Owen and was left to reflect on a performance that never got going.

“I wasn’t great,” he admitted. “I was tired and didn’t have any match sharpness. When that’s the case, it’s over quickly – and to be honest, I didn’t mind too much.”