Michael van Gerwen is going through a rare slump in form, but he claims not to be worried heading into one of the biggest events of the year this weekend, the World Matchplay.
The world number one has not won any of his last five tournaments, which would be no cause for concern for any mere mortal, but MVG operates on a divine level of darting prowess.
MVG has not gone five events without lifting a trophy for nearly four years, hitting a similar dry spell from September to October 2015.
He has not claimed a title since the Premier League, falling short at the Dutch Darts Masters, World Cup, Czech Open, US Darts Masters and German Darts Masters.
It is an unusual feeling for Mighty Mike, but he insists it has not rattled him, suggesting that he lost focus due to a lack of serious competition on the oche.
‘I’m not worried. But of course I also know that things are not going very well for a while. That it has to be better,’ MVG told Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad.
‘There is not one thing to point to. You can’t always play well, that’s where it starts. Maybe I just got a little less hungry, a little less focussed, that that has crept into it.
‘Well, I am back on my feet now. Especially after I lost to Martin Schindler 6-5 at the German Darts Masters last week after I had been leading 5-1. Then I was really pissed off.
‘But you will learn the most from setback. When I started in the PDC, I was in a dip for a long time. I ended up very well with that and that gives me confidence now.
‘I miss people to have a real battle with. Phil [Taylor] has stopped, Raymond [van Barneveld] has sunk a bit and is going to stop. Gary [Anderson] only plays a few tournaments. I might have to get used to it and get even more motivation out of myself to find that sixth gear again.’
The Matchplay has not been Mighty Mike’s best tournament over the years, winning it twice, but falling way short in the last couple of seasons.
A quarter-final exit in 2017 and a first round defeat last year means his two triumphs have come in 10 visits to the Winter Gardens, a poor strikerate by his standards.
‘The past two years I have performed poorly there,’ continued MVG. ‘I want to take revenge on that.
‘Look, if I play my best, then hardly anyone beats me. I know that. They know that. I just have to show it more often.’
Van Gerwen gets his Matchplay campaign underway on Sunday night against Steve Beaton.
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