'The belief just isn’t there' - Michael van Gerwen pulls out of Players Championship 16 after early exit at PC15

There was yet another setback for Michael van Gerwen at the fifteenth Players Championship of the year. The 36-year-old Dutchman, who is already enduring one of the toughest seasons of his career, suffered a disappointing early exit in Hildesheim, losing to Germany’s Dominik Gruellich in the opening round.

In a new episode of the Darts Draait Door podcast, close friend of Van Gerwen, Dutch ex-pro Vincent van der Voort takes a moment to analyze Van Gerwen’s swift defeat. "Gruellich made it to a Pro Tour final (Players Championship 14, where he lost to Jonny Clayton) and is a solid player. There are no weak players in this field."

However, Van der Voort also acknowledges that things aren’t clicking for Van Gerwen. "When I see how things are going, the belief just isn’t there. His presence is lacking, there’s no aggression or passion in his game. It’s just about throwing at the board and hoping for the best."

For Van Gerwen, the focus now shifts to Thursday’s fifteenth round of the Premier League Darts in Aberdeen. He’ll need a strong performance to secure a spot in the play-offs. With only two matchdays left in the regular season, 'Mighty Mike' currently sits fourth in the league, just one point ahead of fifth-place Nathan Aspinall.

Was Van Gerwen perhaps already thinking ahead to Thursday during his match with Gruellich? "If that’s the case, then he shouldn’t have played," Van der Voort responds. "But on the other hand, this was a perfect opportunity to pick up a good result. You’d rather play this match than have to fly in again."

Van Gerwen will not participate in the sixteenth Players Championship, which is taking place today in Hildesheim. "He’s already home," says Van der Voort in conclusion. "He’s taking two days off because Thursday is crucial."