Coverage of the Premier League continues on Thursday, March 5 from Westpoint, Exeter at 7pm on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix
Friday 28 February 2020 10:40, UK
For the first time since 2011, Michael van Gerwen enters the month of March having not already picked up a PDC title in the calendar year so far.
Does it represent a dip in form? Does such a stat worry the world number one?
Not in the slightest.
"Sometimes I skip a few months in July and August, but now I'm going to skip January and February. Now I'm going to start winning," he grinned, speaking to Sky Sports after his 7-4 Premier League win over William O'Connor in Dublin.
"Sometimes, you need to switch a few months around!
"But no, of course I want to win everything I play in. I try to do everything in my abilities to do as well as possible. But even when it doesn't go your way, I reached two finals in the Pro Tour, you need to make sure you practise, prepare better and work harder. And sometimes it's not going to be any damage."
With Gerwyn Price and reigning world champion Peter Wright starting the new season on a high, there are suggestions that the gap to the Green Machine is narrowing.
Not that he feels any pressure.
"I don't have to show anyone anything," he continued. "I just have to do the right things at the right moment for myself, and I know I'm the best player, even though I didn't win the last few tournaments, I don't care - they still know I'm the best. Simple."
Even though I didn't win the last few tournaments, I don't care - they still know I'm the best.
One of the main talking points ahead of the new season has been MVG switching his darts. Many pondered if it would negatively affect his performance at the start of the year, but he insists it has been a seamless transition.
"I think last week I played quite well in the Pro Tour," he mused. "I had a nice 107 average, 105, 102, 103. I can't really remember. They don't go too bad. I feel comfortable with them. My double percentage is higher than ever. I only need to make sure I keep my scoring going, and make sure I've got more in my rhythm, in most of the games.
"I know there's still work to do, and I'm not denying it. But I know it's coming. I'm so close to doing some really special things again."
However, ultimately he feels he won't primarily remember 2020 for the titles, or his achievements on the oche.
The impending arrival of his second child has offered him perspective on the sport.
"I'm a family man," he said. "I've got a busy life as a person. I've got friends I do lovely things with. There's another little one coming up, hopefully in the next four, five, six weeks again. I'm busy with that as well. That's my main priority, and not darts at the moment, of course I still want to do well. But more important is my wife and my kids.
"That's always going to be my top priority.
"Of course darts is a really important thing in my life, but not the most important thing."
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Coverage of the Premier League continues on Thursday, March 5 from Westpoint, Exeter at 7pm on Sky Sports Action & Sky Sports Mix with Gary Anderson taking on 'Cool Hand' Luke Humphries. Don't forget, the Premier League is on every Thursday all the way through until the Play-Offs in London on May 21.
