As we near 2026, it’s a significant time for Michael van Gerwen, a three-time world champion, who has only managed to secure one PDC major title this year, marking his lowest achievement since obtaining his PDC Tour card in 2011.
The 36-year-old has faced challenges in maintaining his winning streak from the past decade, which has been compounded by personal issues, including his recent announcement of his split from his wife of 11 years earlier this year.
Van Gerwen is scheduled to appear on the darts-themed TV game show Bullseye on Christmas Day, hosted by Freddie Flintoff. Before this appearance, Mirror Sport explores the life of ‘The Green Machine’, both on and off the field.
Despite facing professional setbacks recently, Van Gerwen’s personal life has also been tumultuous, with his separation from his wife Daphne being made public in May this year.
Having tied the knot in 2014, the couple shares two children, a daughter born in August 2017 and a son born in April 2020. Van Gerwen took to social media to share the news of their separation, expressing his sadness over the decision.
Sky has discounted its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, offering savings of £192 and providing access to over 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL, and more.
The upcoming season will see Sky broadcasting a minimum of 215 live Premier League games, an increase of up to 100 matches compared to previous seasons.
Van Gerwen announced his withdrawal from upcoming tournaments, citing personal reasons and asking for privacy during this challenging time.
With an impressive record of 48 PDC major singles titles, Van Gerwen ranks second in the all-time rankings, trailing only Phil Taylor. However, he leads in PDC Pro Tour victories with 90 wins.
Estimated to have a fortune of £7 million, Van Gerwen received a substantial boost in prize money from his victory at the World Series of Darts, where he defeated Luke Littler in the final.
His wealth is further augmented by sponsorship deals with various companies in the UK and Netherlands, including Leyland Trade, dartshop.tv, Keuken Concurrent, Van Mossel Automotive, and XQ Darts Max.
Despite a challenging defeat to Luke Littler in the World Darts Championship final last year, Van Gerwen remains confident in his abilities as one of the top competitors in the darts world, especially when facing ‘The Nuke’.
When asked about his continued intimidation factor in 2025 compared to his dominant years, Van Gerwen affirmed that he remains a formidable opponent, particularly for players like Luke Littler.