Michael van Gerwen: Dutch player says ‘I don’t care’ about Luke Littler and Luke Humphries at World Darts Championship | Darts News
Michael van Gerwen says he “doesn’t care” about Luke Littler and Luke Humphries until he faces one of the two favorites for the World Darts Championship title.
Many have predicted that Littler and Humphries will meet in the final next Saturday, January 3, but Van Gerwen is one of many potential stars who could negate that prospect.
However, Van Gerwen would only face Humphries in the semi-final and Littler in the final – a point he was keen to make clear.
“I don’t care about Luke and Luke right now. I just need to focus on my own performance. I can’t meet them before the semi-finals and final anyway,” he said.
Firstly, Van Gerwen must defeat German debutant Arno Merk in his third round match on Sunday night, live on Sky Sports, before a possible fourth round clash against Gary Anderson.
The Dutchman says he “feels good” after a determined 3-1 win over William O’Connor in the round of 64, where his average was over 100.
“The biggest advantage for me is that the format goes to the first of four sets. [in the third round]. I think he [Merk] did very well against Peter Wright,” Van Gerwen said.
“He was sharp, he was there when he needed to be, so I have to make sure I focus on my own performance and I shouldn’t look to anyone else.”
Coming into the World Championship, Van Gerwen said he was ready to put his “worst year” behind him, having struggled on and off the field.
He separated from his wife Daphne in May and took a short break from darts, getting back into shape and winning the World Series of Darts final in September.
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Speaking on Love The Darts, Colin Lloyd and Michael Bridge discuss the expectations for Michael van Gerwen at this year’s World Championship.
Van Gerwen said: “My current form might be good enough to go all the way, but I know I’m capable of doing more. In some games you can play a little worse and in some games you have to do a little more.
“But I know exactly when to do more. Sometimes it doesn’t work out that way but I’m not stupid, I’ve been there many times before.
“You always have to continue to believe in your abilities. I work very hard to make sure I continue to produce good darts and for the rest, I don’t care.”
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Michael van Gerwen says it is time for Peter Wright to retire, following the Briton’s defeat in the second round of the World Darts Championship.
Mardle: Don’t rule out Van Gerwen
At least one of Littler and Humphries has reached the final in 15 of the last 16 ranked televised tournaments, dating back to late 2023.
Five-time World Championship semi-finalist and Sky Sports Darts player Wayne Mardle is expecting surprises, however, with 17 of the 32 seeds already eliminated.
“I don’t think it’s just Luke Humphries [to stop Luke Littler]. I think it would be really short-sighted for anyone to say, after seeing what they’ve already seen at these Worlds, ‘no, that can’t happen,'” he said.
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Luke Littler says he will be ready to face Mensur Suljovic’s slow tactics when they meet in the third round of the World Darts Championship
“We saw Wesley Plaisier do a number on Gerwyn Price. We saw Gabriel Clemens somehow do a number on Wessel Nijman.
“There are some things in life you just can’t do, like playing badly and beating Gary Anderson. You have to be world class on stage to beat Michael van Gerwen.
“If they are beaten, it will take an incredible performance to beat them. Michael van Gerwen reaches the final here while not at his best, so I don’t rule out that possibility.”
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live until January 3 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel (Sky channel 407). Stream darts and many other top sports with NOW.
