I’M NOT AS FLUSH AS YOU THINK

Brexit has cost MVG a big chunk of his prize money so another £300k will come in handy!

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN hates Brexit – because the lousy exchange rate is slashing 10 per cent off the value of his £1.5million prize money in 2016.

Since Britain voted to leave Europe, MVG has found his winner’s pay cheques don’t go so far when he banks them in Holland and his loot is converted into euros.

At least Van Gerwen can afford to pay his ‘winner’s tax’ – because he won a staggering 25 tournaments, including eight TV majors, this year.

Premier League, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, European Championship, UK Open, Players Championship and The Masters... Mighty Mike has won the lot.

The only ace missing from his deck of cards is the William Hill PDC World Championship crown and the Dutchman is red-hot favourite to complete the set at Alexandra Palace.

He had only himself to blame for missing the boat 12 months ago, when he went on holiday to the Caribbean just before the tournament – and was ambushed by compatriot Raymond van Barneveld in the third round.

Van Gerwen, who has won the title only once, hasn’t cut any corners this time.

“One thing is for sure – I won’t be going on holiday again just before a world championship,” he said. “Last year it was hard to take when I lost to Raymond, but since then I have won 25 tournaments, so obviously it didn’t bother me too much!

“But this is the big one, the one you really want to win. I’ve won eight majors in 2016 and, if I can win another world championship, it would feel like the full deck of cards. I am the huge favourite for this tournament, and I hope I can live up to that.”

Van Gerwen is 8-11 favourite with the title sponsors – and almost unbackable at up to 1-200 to beat qualifier Ross Snook or Kim Viljanen in tonight’s first round.

But MVG does not yet include himself in the superstar bracket. He didn’t even make the shortlist for Holland’s Sportsman of the Year award, the Dutch equivalent of BBC’s Sports Personality gong.

“Am I the Lionel Messi of darts? Well, I’ve won more than him – but I don’t have the same bank balance,” said Van Gerwen.

“Roger Federer and Tiger Woods were all-time greats in their sports, too, but if I won 25 tennis or golf tournaments in a year, I would be retired already. You know what? Brexit has made me a lot poorer.

“Most of my prize money is paid in pounds sterling and the lower exchange rate is killing me. Every time I win a tournament it costs me 10 per cent – which is a lot of money when you have won more than £1m.”

Van Gerwen, 27, who won his only world championship three years ago, has already conceded he will never catch Phil Taylor’s incredible record of 16.

MVG added: “I’m not going to play until I’m 56 or 57. If I can retire when I’m 40, that would be great, but I’m never going to get 16 world titles like Phil did.

“I’ve always said I want to win a minimum of five, and that’s still my target.”