Michael van Gerwen hits out at “lazy” rivals following Players Championship success

Michael van Gerwen has branded a number of his rivals “lazy” after they opted out of entering the weekend’s ProTour double-header in Germany.

Van Gerwen secured his first ProTour title of the year at Players Championship 8 in Niedernhausen on Sunday, doubling his ranking title tally for 2022 after recently winning the German Championship.

The double-header of floor events were the first to be held outside of the UK this season and featured a depleted field after a host of Tour Card holders opted out of making the trip.

Van Gerwen was one of only three current Premier League players to compete, and the Dutchman took a swipe at his rivals in his post-match interview after defeating Martin Schindler in the final.

“I’m not here to win a few rounds, I’m here to win these tournaments, otherwise I wouldn’t compete in them,” said the Dutchman.

“The only medicine for getting back on track is winning games and winning tournaments.

“Gerwyn Price is here, James Wade, Daryl Gurney – there are a lot of top players still here.

“Of course, they [absent players] cannot be bothered to travel abroad but I have to travel abroad every week. They are a bit lazy.”

Van Gerwen saw his seven-year spell as world number one ended in January 2021 when Price’s World Championship triumph moved him to the top of the rankings.

While Van Gerwen failed to pick up a televised ranking title last year, Wright’s successes in the World Matchplay and World Championship moved him into a position that saw him recently surpass Price at the top of the Order of Merit.

MVG had won a combined 12 European Tour titles in 2018 and 2019 – each worth £25,000 in prize money – and saw just six events held during the past two years, before a positive Covid-19 test saw him eliminated from the 2021/22 World Championship when he was defending runner-up prize money of £200,000.

The three-time World Champion, who has also won two Premier League nights so far in 2022, is enjoying a return to form on the big stage and has sent out a warning to his rivals, insisting: “I will be top soon, don’t worry.

“Last year was, of course, a disaster for me. If you look towards the ranking system, I lost £200,000 in my world ranking because of Covid, which you can’t do anything against.

“There was £250,000 probably in Euro Tours, so that’s £450,000 off the ranking that I couldn’t do anything against. So if you look towards that perspective, there’s not really a lot you can do – but I always want to aim for more, and I keep believing in myself.

“I’m still favourite with the bookies. People have their own opinion, but if I still play my game it’s still tough to beat me and they all know that. They don’t admit it but that’s how life is.”

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