Those heading to the PDC World Masters for the first major darts tournament of 2025 may be struck by the disappearance of one of the sport’s most iconic sights.
Milton Keynes hosts the revamped competition from January 30 to February 2 where five-time winner Michael van Gerwen will be looking to avenge final defeat to Stephen Bunting last year.
@mvg180But he’ll make a rare change for this tournament[/caption]
While doing so, Bunting will be in his usual red top, but Van Gerwen’s legendary green will be nowhere to be seen.
The tournament is sponsored by darts manufacturers Winmau, and so is MVG, who will be celebrating five-years with the brand.
To mark the occasion, Van Gerwen’s green strip that he’s worn for the past 15 years will be swapped out for a black and gold edition.
Revealing the swap to reporters, the 35-year-old said: “Not in green? No, not this tournament. For the five-year anniversary, I will play in this shirt: black with gold. Perfect.”
Van Gerwen will also be using new special edition darts which are in fact heavier.
“I told the technical guy: you know what I like to play with and what I’m comfortable with, so give me good darts. I gave him free rein,” The Green Machine said.
“The biggest difference is that they are 0.7 grams heavier and the grip has been adjusted. It has to feel good and they feel good from the first moment.”
Should the change work out for Van Gerwen and he avenge last year’s defeat, he’ll pocket an impressive six-figure sum.
The winner will take home £100,000 and the runner-up £50,000, while those in the first round, which Van Gerwen is already in, pocket £10,000.
MVG has a bye into the first round thanks to his form as world No.3, and he will face a yet-to-be-determined qualifier on Friday night.
@mvg180MVG called the black top ‘perfect’[/caption]
The North Brabant-born star is one of dart’s greatest ever performers with a staggering 47 PDC Premier Event wins.
2024 wasn’t his best though, as he had a rare barren year and then a heartbreaking defeat in the biggest match of them all.
Van Gerwen made it to the final of the 2025 World Championship over the New Year, but was defeated by British teen sensation Luke Littler in a fascinating final.
Despite putting on a brilliant display with an average of 100.69, 18-year-old Littler followed his rival dart for dart and ended up with a commanding 7-3 victory.
Van Gerwen will now look to add his first Premier Event crown since the 2023 World Series of Darts Finals in his home country.
