As the 2026 Premier League Darts season looms large on the horizon, one of the sport’s most outspoken voices has issued a striking warning about Michael van Gerwen – a player whose status as a dominant figure in darts now appears to be under unprecedented pressure.
Wayne Mardle, the former professional and well-known darts commentator, has openly expressed concern over how Van Gerwen will cope in a competitive environment that has shifted dramatically in recent seasons. While Van Gerwen remains one of the most decorated players in the sport’s history, Mardle believes the upcoming Premier League could expose deeper issues with the three-time world champion’s current form and consistency.
“You’ve got the old and the new,” Mardle recently said as he analysed the shape of the 2026 Premier League circuit. “I’m kind of concerned about, in a way, Michael van Gerwen. I’m not sure how he’s going to do.” According to Mardle, last year’s Premier League campaign was a rare disappointment for Van Gerwen, who for the first time in a long while failed to secure a night victory and missed out on the finals altogether. That serves as a stark contrast to his previous seasons, where he was a perennial front-runner and multiple Premier League night winner.
Van Gerwen’s struggles have not gone unnoticed within the darts world. His early exit from major tournaments and a lack of consistency on the Premier League circuit have prompted observers to question whether the veteran is entering a transitional period in his career — one where his legendary status might not be enough to carry him through the rise of younger competitors.
In recent years, players such as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen have surged to the forefront of the sport. Littler, the prodigious youngster, has brought a spectacular new level of play that has already seen him topple seasoned champions on big stages. Meanwhile, Humphries remains a compelling force, consistently mixing high averages with steel-like focus. Van Veen, the Dutchman who has recently overtaken Van Gerwen to become the Netherlands’ highest-ranked player, symbolizes the evolving dynamics of elite darts.
Mardle acknowledged Van Gerwen’s undoubtable talent, insisting the Dutchman still has “the ability to win anything,” but he stressed that the context around him has changed. “He didn’t make the play-offs last year for the first time in a long time. He’s now not as much of a winner as he used to be,” Mardle remarked. The commentator believes this will place added pressure on Van Gerwen as he tries to reassert himself against opposition that is hungrier, fresher and arguably more consistent in big-moment situations.
The Premier League presents a grueling test of consistency and mental resilience, running over 17 weeks with eight of the best players in the world battling it out almost every Thursday. For many, it’s a tournament that doesn’t forgive lapses in form. In this environment, Mardle fears Van Gerwen could find his vulnerabilities exposed.
“To adapt to the role of ‘elder statesman’,” Mardle said, “he’s going to have to upset these new young guns.” What he meant was clear: Van Gerwen can no longer rely on past laurels. The sport has evolved, and his challengers have sharpened their games considerably. If Van Gerwen is to thrive again, he must rediscover the ruthless precision and mental edge that made him virtually unbeatable for so long.
It’s not to say Van Gerwen’s career is in jeopardy. Far from it. His experience and skill still make him a danger on any night, and he has shown flashes of brilliance in other competitions leading into the season. However, Mardle’s candid assessment is a reminder that in today’s professional darts landscape, even the greatest must continually adapt or risk being overtaken.
As the Premier League season unfolds, all eyes will be on Van Gerwen to see whether he can silence his critics and remind the world why he has been one of the sport’s defining figures. At the same time, the new generation stands ready, eager to prove that a new era of darts isn’t just coming — it’s already here.
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