MIGHTY Michael van Gerwen admits he is going through the toughest time of his life.
The three-times world champion returns to the big stage on Tuesday in a bid to win a SEVENTH World Grand Prix in Leicester.
Michael van Gerwen and Daphne are getting a divorce after 11 years[/caption]
Michael van Gerwen, Daphne and their two children pose during a holiday[/caption]
But MVG, 36, is going through his own annus horribilis as he struggles through a divorce from wife of 11 years Daphne and his dad Henri fights cancer.
Despite the year of hell, the Dutch star remains defiant that he has the hunger and desire to challenge Luke Littler and Luke Humphries for the major titles again.
On it being the hardest period in his life, he revealed: “Yes, 100 per cent, without a shadow of a doubt.
“My dad is OK and now he has seven weeks of radiotherapy and probably chemotherapy. After that hopefully everything is fine.
“They think that they have removed everything for the second time in 18 months.
“He had his operation just a few days before the Matchplay. It wasn’t the most ideal preparation for me.
“Sometimes things are more important in life.”
Van Gerwen also admitted that he is still struggling with so many issues. On being in a good headspace again, he added: “Not yet. I’m in the middle of a divorce, I take my time sometimes with the kids.
“Everything is different now with me. I need to find a new routine.
“Of course it’s going to take another couple of months before I’m 100 per cent settled in. I’ll be back, don’t worry!
“The tournaments are tougher, you need to invest time and get back on the practice board. You need to find a solution for my private life. Everything has to fall in place.
“That takes time. I’m not going to rush it. People can tell me whatever they want to tell me. I will do this my own way. I did it my own way the last 15 years, I’ll do this my own way as well.”
Van Gerwen, who faces Dirk van Duijvenbode on Tuesday, has been partying at the Tomorrowland festival in Ibiza and was seen in a video involved in an ugly scuffle in a kebab shop last weekend which went viral on social media.
But he added: “Sometimes you need to take some time off and relax and put yourself in a different environment. I was in Ibiza with my kids and then on my own. I went to Tomorrowland, I did a lot of nice things.
“Now I need to play darts and practice and get back into my routine.
“I’ve never been in this position. I was with my wife for 17 and a half years. It’s a new life for me now.”
But MVG remains confident that he will return to his best in the near future to upset the dominating Lukes.
He said: “Of course defeats are not nice but also they make you the player you are. I know what I’m capable of, everyone knows that.
“I’ve had bad patches in my life before when I under-performed.
“I think he (Luke Littler) is doing really good for himself and for the sport of darts.
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You need to make sure you are here for the long run. I’ve been in the PDC for 18 years.
“You can say it but you have to do it. But I want to do it. If you don’t have the hunger, then maybe it’s time to do something else. I still like to perform on the big stages.”
Michael van Gerwen is playing in the BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix in Leicester on 6th-12th October. Learn more at BOYLESports 18+ GambleAware.
Michael van Gerwen has struggled for form recently[/caption]
