Van Gerwen Faces Warning Over Potential World Top 16 Exit
Michael Van Gerwen, the renowned Dutch darts player, faces scrutiny over his place among the world’s top players. According to former professional Vincent van der Voort, Van Gerwen risks dropping out of the top 16 rankings if his performance does not improve.
Potential Exit from the Top 16 Rankings
Since winning the Players Championship Finals in 2022, Van Gerwen has not secured a major ranked tournament victory. As the current World No. 4, this season has been particularly challenging for him. He suffered early exits in the first two PDC Premier events, a situation he has not experienced since 2012. This included disappointing performances at the World Championship and World Masters.
Complacency and Its Consequences
Van der Voort noted that complacency might be affecting Van Gerwen’s game. He stated that the three-time world champion may have taken his success for granted. “He has, almost unconsciously, eased off the gas a little,” van der Voort remarked. He emphasized the importance of the current year for Van Gerwen, suggesting that failure to perform could result in a significant drop in his ranking.
- Potential to drop out of the top 16
- Last major win: 2022 Players Championship Finals
- Current ranking: World No. 4
- Historical context: Hasn’t missed quarter-finals since 2012
Upcoming Challenges
This Thursday, Van Gerwen will return to the Premier League to compete against Stephen Bunting in Newcastle. He has a strong legacy, being a seven-time winner of this prestigious weekly invitational competition. However, he did not qualify for the play-offs last season, adding pressure for a strong performance in the current tournament.
Van Gerwen’s upcoming matches will be crucial in determining whether he can reclaim his former status in the sport or risk sliding further down the rankings. The darts community remains attentive to how this situation unfolds in the 2023 season.
