Raymond van Barneveld has shared his thoughts on Michael van Gerwen’s poor start to 2025.
The three-time world champion has endured a difficult time of late, most recently crashing out of the UK Open last week at the hands of world number 57 Rob Owen.
GettyVan Gerwen has suffered a string of early exits in recent weeks[/caption]
Van Gerwen’s latest disappointment came two just days after he was beaten in the quarter-finals of night four in the Premier League, having failed to reach a final in the competition this year.
Prior to this, he suffered a second round exit at the World Masters with defeat to Dimitri Van den Bergh in January.
‘Mighty Mike’ also found himself on the receiving end of a shock result at Players Championship 3 last month after being dumped out in his opening match by Michael Flynn.
Despite his poor recent form, fellow compatriot Van Barneveld remains confident the 35-year-old will get back to his best.
Appearing on talkSPORT Breakfast ahead of Night 5 of the Premier League Darts season tonight, ‘Barney’ was asked if he felt Van Gerwen could return to the top of his game.
To this, he replied: “Oh, yeah. Without a doubt. Michael is still, in my eyes, one of the best players in the world.
“Both Luke’s [Humphries and Littler], they are one and two in the Premier League.”
However, the five-time world champion then shared his main concern surrounding Van Gerwen’s recent struggles.
Van Barneveld continued: “But what’s bothering me with Mike at the moment [is], after four nights, he’s minus one in leg difference.
“And that’s not like Mike. He was always plus ten legs or whatever. So he’s struggling basically with his form. And no one knows why.”
Though Van Gerwen has fallen short of his usual high standards lately, he notched an impressive 6-5 victory over Luke Littler on night one of the Premier League, just a month after losing to the 18-year-old in the PDC World Championship final.
He was then beaten by world number one Humphries in the semi-finals, squandering match darts in a 6-5 defeat.
And Van Barneveld was quick to point out the Dutchman’s encouraging performances against darts’ big names, as he tried to explain his loss of form.
He went on: “But I’m pretty sure if you send him for a job, like playing Luke Littler in the first round of the Premier League, he beat him.
“Then he should have beaten Luke Humphries as well. He was missing match darts, last week he was missing match darts.
“And that’s not really Michael. Michael was always a killer.
“I don’t know what’s going on. I see him often, but what’s really going on with his game, I’m not sure.”
Van Barneveld, who won the 2007 PDC World Championship, suggested darts’ hectic schedule could be to blame for his fellow countryman’s inconsistency.
The 57-year-old said: “Maybe [it’s the] set up. We travel a lot. We play a lot.
“Don’t get me wrong, guys, from Exeter [Night 4] last week, they played one day later. They go straight to the UK Open and play more matches.
“It’s almost unstoppable at the moment. How the EuroTours get in.
“It’s really tiring for all the players. And we have to protect them, because the Premier League, EuroTours, ProTours, in all honesty, it’s a little bit insane.”
Van Gerwen will be targeting a first Premier League final appearance this year as he returns to action against Gerwyn Price in Night Five tonight, live on talkSPORT 2.
