Michael van Gerwen kicked off his 2024 European Championship campaign in top form, cruising past home favorite Gabriel Clemens 6-1 in Dortmund on Thursday night.
The 35-year-old Dutchman posted an impressive 100.01 average in the opening round. “You always need to be sharp in this short format,” Van Gerwen explained during his post-match interview. “I’m enjoying my darts again, which makes a big difference. You want to keep performing well because there’s still a lot to fight for, and I feel this tournament is really important for me.”
Van Gerwen has been a dominant figure in darts for over a decade, but fresh talent has been rising to the occasion recently, with players like Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, and World Grand Prix winner Mike De Decker joining the spotlight. “The sport evolves, and that’s a good thing,” Van Gerwen says. “I’ve been around for a while, and sometimes things can feel like they’re on autopilot. But I keep pushing myself to reinvent my game, and that keeps me motivated.”
In his next match, ‘Mighty Mike’ will face off against Gary Anderson, reigniting their long-standing rivalry on the big stage. “Gary and I know each other well,” Van Gerwen commented with respect.
“He’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen, even if he’s a part-timer. But I’m feeling good, I’m fighting for everything, and I’m ready to give it my all.”
Reflecting on last week’s Czech Darts Open, Van Gerwen admitted he was outmatched in the quarterfinals by Luke Littler, despite scoring a huge 112.19 average—only to lose 6-1 to Littler’s 110.57. “I wasn’t even mad at myself,” Van Gerwen admitted.
“Things like that happen in sports. I played well, my scoring was strong, and my desire to win was there. Sometimes, you have to tip your hat.”
Michael Van Gerwen
