Michael van Gerwen will play his first match on Friday since his separation from his wife, Daphne. The three-time world champion has traveled to New York with “mixed feelings.” “Sometimes you think: I have more important things on my mind.”
Van Gerwen filled his dart break in recent weeks by spending time with his children, Zoë and Mike. He calls it a “unique period.” “It was worth a lot to me,” the man from Vlijmen said on Wednesday in conversation with NU.nl, among others.
“I’m always working and always away. That’s part of it when you play at such a high level. Now it was different. I really enjoyed moments with my children. That is not the reality in my life, but it should be. The kids come first.”
The reason for the free time with his children was less pleasant. More than a month ago, Van Gerwen announced that he was going to divorce his wife, Daphne Govers, with whom he had been together for more than ten years. He decided to stop playing darts for the time being.
But more than a month later, Van Gerwen is already returning to the oche. Prior to the tournament that starts on Friday, Van Gerwen does not want to go into the details regarding the divorce. “That is a private matter,” he says.
Van Gerwen has also changed physically recently. For example, he no longer has braces and he is on a diet. “I’ve already lost 8 kilos. It’s going well, but I can still lose a lot.”
Van Gerwen noticed in recent weeks that the outside world does want to know the reason for the breakup. There was a lot of speculation about the backgrounds to the divorce. Van Gerwen calls it “not easy” to deal with.
“You’re not waiting for that,” he says. “But I have no influence on what is said and written about me. Most people have respected my privacy. But I am and will remain a public person. I realize that very well.”
Van Gerwen was ashamed that a camera crew from a television program was at his door for a response. “Then you have no heart. You can also ask the PDC press officer if you can speak to me. Just as easy. That really wasn’t fun.”
Van Gerwen is happy that he is now being asked about darts again. Although he emphasizes that his thoughts sometimes wander. “You sometimes think: I have more important things on my mind. On the other hand: it’s nice to think about something else. That’s what I’m doing here now.”
The question is how Van Gerwen will return from his break. Before his break, he was in a severe form crisis. He was eliminated early at the UK Open and missed placement for the play-offs of the Premier League for the second time in his career.
Van Gerwen does not yet feel fully motivated to fight for the cups. “It’s too early for that. Although I am coming here to cause damage. My level? I don’t know. I have barely touched my arrows in recent weeks.”
Van Gerwen is also likely to be in action next week at the World Series tournament in Poland and later at the World Matchplay. His further schedule is unclear. “That depends on how things are at home. This situation involves quite a bit of paperwork, you know,” Van Gerwen says with a laugh.
“You know, it also feels good to throw again somewhere. I know that I can offer my children a good future. I will have to do that by throwing and I can’t do it from the couch.”