Michael van Gerwen is no longer the dominant force in darts, and many players have seized the opportunity to move ahead of the Dutchman.
For years, Van Gerwen stood head and shoulders above everyone else in the PDC, and was rarely – if ever – knocked off the top of his perch.
But ever since Luke Littler broke onto the scene in 2023, with others such as Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen making immense improvements, the Green Machine has been overtaken by the new guard.
The seven-time Premier League champion has watched his performances decline in recent years, with consistency becoming a major problem.
Vincent van der Voort thinks people no longer fear Michael van Gerwen
Dutch darts enjoyed a strong weekend in Goettingen as Wessel Nijman celebrated a landmark first big stage title with an 8-3 victory over Gerwyn Price.
NIJMAN CLAIMS MAIDEN EURO TOUR TITLE 🥇
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 15, 2026
It's Wesselmania in Goettingen 🤩
Wessel Nijman takes out a majestic 150 checkout to seal an 8-3 win over Gerwyn Price and scoop the Elten Safety Shoes European Darts Trophy with remarkable aplomb 🏆#ET2 pic.twitter.com/yR5TROxpv1
Nijman was sensational throughout as he recorded five successive ton-plus averages, with that victory skyrocketing him into the world’s top 20.
Whilst Nijman’s performance stole the headlines, Niels Zonneveld and Dirk van Duijvenbode both reached the quarter-finals as the weekend took on a distinctively Dutch flavour.
That being said, it was a tournament Van Gerwen will want to erase from his mind, as he suffered a 6-2 defeat against Zonneveld in the last-32 despite posting a 107 average.
Speaking on the Darts Draait Door podcast, Vincent van der Voort criticised Van Gerwen for coming up short in the crucial moments.
“Averages don’t tell the whole story,” he said. “Van Gerwen averages 107, but still misses key moments. Those are the moments that decide a match.”
The former professional feels this issue is more than just an off day, and he believes there is a change in how opponents view the 36-year-old.
“I also told him: no one is afraid of you anymore,” Van der Voort revealed. “In the past, players thought: if Van Gerwen hits his best form, I lose. But that feeling is gone now.
“Everyone now thinks: if he has an off day, he’s there for the taking. And that happens regularly. It’s no longer a one-off.”
What van Gerwen must do to turn the tide
Van Gerwen set a relentless standard for years, and it’s now his biggest challenge to return to his punishing best.
The three-time world champion showed glimpses at the start of the Premier League, as impeccable timing in legs landed him a nightly win in Newcastle and a final appearance a week later.
But since he pulled out of night three through illness, Van Gerwen has failed to secure victory in each of the following weeks, falling at the first hurdle to Price, Humphries and Jonny Clayton.
| Pos | Player | Nights Won | Pts |
| 1 | Jonny Clayton | 2 | 19 |
| 2 | Luke Littler | 1 | 11 |
| 3 | Gerwyn Price | 1 | 9 |
| 4 | Gian van Veen | 0 | 9 |
| 5 | Luke Humphries | 0 | 9 |
| 6 | Michael van Gerwen | 1 | 8 |
| 7 | Stephen Bunting | 1 | 7 |
| 8 | Josh Rock | 0 | 0 |
That has seen him go from top to loitering outside of the play-offs, and only significant improvements to his game will turn the tide.
Currently, Van Gerwen is 10th in the world for his average (96.19) in 2026, and an alarming 53rd on the checkouts (38.88%). Ultimately, those numbers don’t wash against the world’s best, and he will understand the importance of raising his standard to land more major titles.
