MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has withdrawn from the Players Championship 16.
It comes following his first round exit in the previous stage of the Players Championship, with his pal claiming the “belief isn’t there”.
Michael van Gerwen has withdrawn from the Players Championship 16[/caption]
Van Gerwen, 36, was beaten 6-5 by outsider Dominik Gruellich.
It was the sixth first-round loss of this year’s PDC ProTour for the Green Machine, who has lacked his usual form.
His compatriot Vincent van der Voort is a little concerned, as Van Gerwen is failing to show the attributes that made him one of the world’s best.
Van der Voort said on the Darts Draait Door podcast: “When I see how things are going, the belief just isn’t there.
“His presence is lacking, there’s no aggression or passion in his game.
“It’s just about throwing at the board and hoping for the best.”
Van Gerwen’s form means he is also at risk of missing out on qualifying for the finals night of Premier League Darts.
He currently occupies the final spot in the top four, but is just one point ahead of Nathan Aspinall.
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The three-time world champion has experienced a drought this year and is still yet to win a tournament.
He reached the semi-final of the European Darts Trophy, losing to Ryan Joyce, but is yet to feature in a final since the World Darts Championship, where he was thrashed by Luke Littler.
Van Gerwen has also been forced to withdraw from tournaments this year after sustaining foot and shoulder injuries.
And despite the concerns, Van Gerwen reassured fans he still has the “fire in my belly.”
He said: “I still have the fire in my belly. The anger is still there when you don’t perform 100 per cent.
“When you face the past, you’ve your back against the future. You’ve to look to the future.
“I changed darts for a reason. To get my mind off things. When you aren’t 100 per cent comfortable, it’s a nice thing, but it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to.
“It’s not the most pleasant moment in my career. I’ll never give up. I’ll fight for everything. I know it’s still there. You don’t lose talent like that.”