Michael van Gerwen promises he’s not given up on Minehead “If I can’t qualify from that, then I don’t deserve to be there.” 

Michael van Gerwen showed flashes of his very best form in Amsterdam on Friday night, battling past compatriot Wessel Nijman to kick off his campaign at the 2025 Jack’s Casino World Series of Darts Finals.

The three-time World Champion was full of praise for his young opponent after a dramatic first-round clash, but he also admitted that the occasion gave him a huge lift. Playing in front of a packed home crowd has often been a double-edged sword for Van Gerwen, but this time he thrived on the atmosphere and described the result as one of his most enjoyable nights on Dutch soil in years.

“I’m delighted with the way I played,” said Van Gerwen. “Wessel’s cover shots were fantastic. Every time he missed his first dart he seemed to find two trebles straight after, and that put me under pressure. But I could also see he was overthinking at times and slowing himself down, and that’s where experience counts. He’s going to be a great player, but another win on the board for me is what matters.”

Handling the Pressure

Van Gerwen trailed 3–1 early on despite averaging around the 112 mark, a reminder of how unforgiving darts at this level can be. Still, he insisted that doubts never crept into his mind.

“If you start thinking you can’t win from there, you’ve already lost,” he said. “Yes, I had moments where I maybe tried a little too hard, but overall I felt really comfortable on stage. That’s what you want – to show the crowd you’re still capable of big performances. For me, it was one of the best games I’ve played in Holland for quite some time, and that gives me so much joy.”

Van Gerwen has often carried the weight of expectation when playing in the Netherlands. On Friday, he made no secret of how unique that pressure feels.

“All the other Dutch players don’t even know what real pressure is,” he remarked. “They might think they’re superstars, but they’ve never been in this position. Playing at home when the expectation is all on you – that’s a different level.”

Form and Consistency

Recent months have highlighted the inconsistency in Van Gerwen’s game. In Prague, he averaged a blistering 112 in one match and followed it with an 89 in the next. That rollercoaster has left many questioning where his true form lies.

Asked if that inconsistency was frustrating, Van Gerwen rejected the idea outright. “I can’t be frustrated after playing like that tonight,” he said. “Otherwise you can’t produce this type of performance. I know I need to find that level more regularly, but that’s a process. It takes energy and it takes work.”

His long-time friend and fellow professional Vincent van der Voort has spoken about the rebuilding phase Van Gerwen is going through. The man himself acknowledged that progress is being made, though he knows only consistency will silence any doubters.

“If I feel good, nobody beats me,” he declared. “But you still have to do it, and you have to do it against players in form. Wessel’s been performing well on the European Tour, so I had to dig in and show fight.”

Michael van Gerwen promises he’s not given up on Minehead

Attention also turned to Van Gerwen’s prospects of qualifying for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead later this year. Having skipped several Pro Tour events in 2025, he faces an uphill battle to secure his place, but Michael van Gerwen promises he’s not given up on Minehead

When asked whether he had effectively written off his chances, Van Gerwen was blunt: “You know me better than that.”

With seven Players Championship events remaining, he insisted he still has time to make the cut. “Why not? I’ll play at least five of them,” he said. “If I can’t qualify from that, then I don’t deserve to be there. Simple as that.”

Looking Ahead

For Van Gerwen, Friday’s opening win was about more than just survival – it was about sending a message that he remains a force on the big stage. The Dutchman knows consistency is the missing piece of the puzzle, but if he can reproduce the quality he showed in flashes against Nijman, the path to a record-extending sixth World Series Finals title remains firmly open.