Michael van Gerwen 'ready to get back to work' at US Darts Masters after much needed family time

Michael van Gerwen will make his competitive return to the oche this weekend at the US Darts Masters, following a self-imposed break of over a month due to personal circumstances.

The Dutchman last featured in May, before shocking the darts world by announcing the end of his marriage to his now ex-wife, Daphne. In a statement at the time, the world number three explained his withdrawal from upcoming events:

“As a result, I have withdrawn from the upcoming tournaments. I’m sorry to disappoint my fans, but I trust they understand my decision. We are going through a difficult time and kindly ask for privacy during this period.”

Van Gerwen has since missed a significant chunk of the calendar, including five ranking and invitational events. He opted out of the European Tour events in Rosmalen and Leverkusen, skipped the Nordic Darts Masters, and also sat out three Players Championship events as well as the World Cup of Darts.

His first public appearance since the announcement came last weekend at an exhibition event in Belgium, offering fans a brief glimpse of his return to the stage. That was followed by confirmation earlier this week of his participation in the World Series event in New York.

On Tuesday, Van Gerwen took to social media to share an update ahead of his transatlantic journey: “On my way to New York. Ready to get back to work after some quality time with the kids,” he posted, alongside photos of a family dinner with children Zoë and Mike, and a selfie aboard his flight.

The three-time World Champion is now preparing to face one of the North American representatives in the opening round of the US Darts Masters, which gets underway in the early hours of Saturday (UK time). The event features eight PDC stars taking on regional qualifiers in the first round, as part of the ongoing World Series of Darts circuit.

For Van Gerwen, the tournament marks an important step on the road back to top form, with the prestigious World Matchplay looming next month. Before then, he is also scheduled to compete at the World Series of Darts event in Poland, two Players Championship events, and the Baltic Sea Darts Open in Kiel—all of which will serve as key opportunities to rebuild sharpness and momentum.