Michael van Gerwen to miss Players Championship Final after withdrawing from remaining ProTour events | Darts News
Michael van Gerwen will miss the Players Championship final for the first time in his career after withdrawing from Wednesday's ProTour event in Wigan.
The seven-time champion was already outside the qualifying places for the prestigious tournament next month and opted to skip the final three qualifying events.
He could have reached the top 64 with a win at Players Championship 32 but decided to return home.
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Find out how Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Luke Humphries and Luke Littler joined the Triple Crown club by winning the World Championship, World Matchplay and the Premier League.
Van Gerwen languishes in 93rd position in the Players Championship Order of Merit, and with only the top 64 qualified for November's major rankings at Butlins Minehead Resort, the Dutchman has ended his quest for qualification.
Instead, the 36-year-old three-time world champion is ready to prioritize his family by spending time with his children amid his separation from his wife of 11 years, Daphne.
His father Henri is also battling cancer which has forced Van Gerwen to put his darts career on hold.
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Michael van Gerwen hits a sensational nine-darter in Munich at the Elten German Darts Grand Prix
The Dutchman said Darts World: “Everyone knows what happened and right now I'm just focusing on my children.
“Obviously the news about me and their mother is affecting them greatly, and it is vital that we both continue to provide them with love and care no matter what.
“It's a decision that was already in place. I know my fans would love to see me at Minehead, but I assure them I'll be back very soon.
“It’s been a tough year and now I need to recharge the batteries ahead of the World Championships.
“I owe it to myself, my management, my sponsors and also to the fans to only play when I am fully focused and can give 100% to the game I love.
“Right now, my family is what matters most and they will always come first, regardless of anything else.
“Thank you for your continued words of support on social media. I see them and it means a lot.
“At the end of the day, just because we professional darts players are in the spotlight doesn’t mean we are loving parents first and foremost.”
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Highlights from the final showdown of Night Seven between Luke Littler and Van Gerwen, where the 18-year-old hit a brilliant nine-darter!
Van Gerwen was beaten in the first round of the recent World Grand Prix and was knocked out in the first round by Dom Taylor at Tuesday's Players Championship 31 in Wigan.
The Dutch star has also withdrawn from this weekend's German Darts Championship – the final European Tour event of the season – but is already assured of a place at the next European Championship in Dortmund from October 23-26.
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2025-10-15 09:43:00
