Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘I’m not a robot, I’m a human’
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN faced up to his worst run as world No.1 and insisted: “I haven’t become a bad player overnight.”
Van Gerwen puts his form to the test before millions of viewers on terrestrial TV as the Professional Darts Corporation pitches its big top on the BBC this weekend at the Paddy Power Champions League of Darts in Brighton.
MVG, knocked out twice in the first round of tournaments in the summer – including a shock defeat by fellow Dutchman Jeffrey de Zwaan at the World Matchplay - faces Dave Chisnall today in his opening group match.
And the two-time world champion warned he would be using a weekend at the seaside to reassert his authority as the man to beat – rock, stock and both barrels.
Van Gerwen said: “I’ve always said I’m human, not a robot, and maybe my results in the last few months have reflected that.
“Winning tournaments does not come easy, but I also know that form is temporary - and you do not lose your ability to win in a short time.
“There are only 11 weeks to go before the world championship, and this would be a good place to build some momentum and get that winning feeling back.”
Mensur Suljovic begins his defence of the title agaisnt world champion Rob Cross.
Phil Taylor won the inaugural event in 2016, beating Van Gerwen twice in over the weekend – once in the group and again in the final