Darts legend Bobby George has spilled the beans on one of the funniest behind-the-scenes pranks in the modern game, courtesy of none other than three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen. The story paints a vivid picture of the Dutch superstar’s cheeky sense of humour, proving that even the game’s biggest stars love a good wind-up – and that the spirit of darts’ wilder days is alive and kicking.
George, affectionately known as ‘Bobby Dazzler’ and a former Lakeside finalist who lit up the oche alongside icons like five-time world champion Eric Bristow and John Lowe in the sport’s golden era of the 1970s and 1980s, reckons van Gerwen would have slotted right in with that larger-than-life crew. Speaking about his experiences with the Dutch ace, whom he calls a “very humorous sort of guy,” George revealed how MVG – or “Grandad” as the younger player teasingly dubs the veteran – pulled off a string of playful stunts that left him both frustrated and laughing.
It all started with something as simple as swapping phone numbers. “Michael said to me, ‘Grandad, I’ll give you my new number,’” George recalled. “I said alright, so I gave him my phone. I said go on, do it.” Two weeks later, van Gerwen cheekily followed up: “‘You never phoned me, Grandad.’” Bobby shot back, puzzled: “‘You didn’t put it in the phone. How am I going to phone you if I don’t have your number?’” The punchline? Van Gerwen had slyly saved his contact under “B” – for “best in the world.” George couldn’t help but chuckle at the audacity, admitting the Dutchman had caught him out fair and square.
But the real rib-tickler came when the topic turned to smoking. George’s wife, Marie, has never been a fan of the habit, and the darts legend would often sneak a “cunning fag” to keep the peace. Van Gerwen, ever the opportunist, spotted his chance during a tournament. “He said, ‘Grandad, have a fag, come out with me.’ I said alright. She knew what I was doing,” George explained. The pair stepped outside, van Gerwen lit up a cigarette and started chatting casually while Bobby puffed away. But instead of keeping it between them, MVG had a plan. He filmed the whole thing on his phone, then marched straight over to Marie in the players’ room.
“He calls my missus Marie. He said, ‘I have to show you something. Look at Grandad.’ He filmed me smoking the b****** and he told her! He’s filmed it and said, ‘Look at that,’” George recounted with a mix of exasperation and amusement. Marie’s reaction was instant: “You have been smoking today!” The evidence was undeniable, and George was well and truly stitched up. It was a classic bit of mischief that highlighted van Gerwen’s sharp eye for a prank and his willingness to stir the pot – all in good fun, of course.
The pranks didn’t stop there. George shared how van Gerwen once trapped him in a toilet during a busy event. “The toilet might be, you go through a door and cut across outside because you can’t get there due to the crowds,” he described. Van Gerwen simply locked the door behind him, leaving the veteran stranded and unable to get back into the venue until someone came to the rescue. Another time, during a practice session, MVG swapped the flights on George’s darts with his own. “I picked them up and had a throw. What he did was change the flights so I was playing with his! I didn’t even notice,” George said, still amazed at how seamlessly the switch went unnoticed at first.
These light-hearted antics reveal a side of van Gerwen that fans rarely see amid the high-stakes pressure of Premier League nights, World Championships, and record-breaking 180s. The Dutchman, known for his explosive celebrations and laser-focused intensity on the board, clearly knows how to loosen up off it – and in doing so, he’s bridged the gap between darts’ flamboyant past and its polished present. George believes MVG’s personality is a perfect fit for the game’s golden generation, where larger-than-life characters thrived on banter, rivalries, and camaraderie.
In an era where darts has exploded in popularity worldwide, stories like these remind us why the sport endures. It’s not just about the arrows hitting the treble 20; it’s about the bonds forged in green rooms, the laughs shared between legends old and new, and the unbreakable spirit that turns competitors into mates. Bobby George, a true icon who helped shape the game into the global phenomenon it is today, clearly holds van Gerwen in high regard. “He can mix in. I think he has got a good character,” the veteran concluded warmly.
Whether it’s sneaking a cheeky smoke, locking doors, or fiddling with flights, Michael van Gerwen’s playful side has given Bobby George plenty of hilarious memories – and fans everywhere another reason to smile. In the high-octane world of professional darts, it’s these human touches that keep the game feeling like one big, boisterous family. And with characters like these still trading stories and pranks decades on, the future of the sport looks as bright and entertaining as ever.
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