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THROUGH THE YEARS
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Michael van Gerwen wasn’t just a promising young talent—he was a phenomenon. Bursting onto the scene in 2006, the Dutch teenager announced himself with a Winmau World Masters title at just 17 years old, breaking Eric Bristow’s record as the youngest winner. A year later, he hit a televised nine-darter against Raymond van Barneveld, showing the world that his raw talent was something special.
But like all great champions, success didn’t come overnight. MVG’s early years in the PDC were tough. He struggled to match the early hype, grinding through the floor circuit while searching for the form that had once made him the most exciting prospect in the game. Little did the darts world know, his time was coming.
After years in the shadows, 2012 changed everything. MVG won his first PDC major at the World Grand Prix, beating Mervyn King in the final. That was just the start.
In the 2013 World Championship, he went back-to-back on perfect legs, coming within one dart of hitting consecutive nine-darters, something never seen before. He lost to Phil Taylor in the final, but the message was clear: MVG had arrived.
With his blazing-fast throw, fearless aggression, and record-breaking averages, Van Gerwen became the most dominant force in darts. Between 2015 and 2017, he won almost everything in sight, racking up major after major—Premier Leagues, UK Opens, Matchplays, Grand Prix titles. He was simply unstoppable.
Then came 2017, a year that defined his greatness. His World Championship semi-final against Raymond van Barneveld saw him average a mind-blowing 114.05—the highest ever recorded in the tournament’s history. He followed that up with a 7-3 demolition of Gary Anderson in the final, lifting his second World title and cementing his place in darting history.
While rivals like Peter Wright and Rob Cross tried to challenge his throne, MVG was still the man to beat. He dominated the 2018 Premier League, hit multiple nine-darters, and picked up title after title. But the 2019 World Championship was the moment that really mattered. In a final against Michael Smith, MVG delivered a clinical 7-3 victory, becoming a three-time PDC World Champion and proving, once again, why he was the best in the world.
If there’s one thing MVG does better than anyone, it’s bounce back. In 2022, he silenced the doubters by reclaiming the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, and Players Championship Finals—reminding the world that he was still one of the greatest of all time.
Then, in 2023, he cemented his seventh Premier League title, surpassing Phil Taylor’s record. But at the World Championship, he ran into Michael Smith’s nine-dart perfection in the final—one of the greatest moments in darts history. MVG was runner-up, but his legacy was already untouchable.
The game keeps evolving, and so does Michael van Gerwen. With Luke Humphries and Luke Littler emerging as new stars, the competition is fiercer than ever. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that you never count out MVG. With his unmatched hunger for winning, there’s always another title around the corner.
Michael van Gerwen wasn’t just a promising young talent—he was a phenomenon. Bursting onto the scene in 2006, the Dutch teenager announced himself with a Winmau World Masters title at just 17 years old, breaking Eric Bristow’s record as the youngest winner. A year later, he hit a televised nine-darter against Raymond van Barneveld, showing the world that his raw talent was something special.
But like all great champions, success didn’t come overnight. MVG’s early years in the PDC were tough. He struggled to match the early hype, grinding through the floor circuit while searching for the form that had once made him the most exciting prospect in the game. Little did the darts world know, his time was coming.
After years in the shadows, 2012 changed everything. MVG won his first PDC major at the World Grand Prix, beating Mervyn King in the final. That was just the start.
In the 2013 World Championship, he went back-to-back on perfect legs, coming within one dart of hitting consecutive nine-darters, something never seen before. He lost to Phil Taylor in the final, but the message was clear: MVG had arrived.
With his blazing-fast throw, fearless aggression, and record-breaking averages, Van Gerwen became the most dominant force in darts. Between 2015 and 2017, he won almost everything in sight, racking up major after major—Premier Leagues, UK Opens, Matchplays, Grand Prix titles. He was simply unstoppable.
Then came 2017, a year that defined his greatness. His World Championship semi-final against Raymond van Barneveld saw him average a mind-blowing 114.05—the highest ever recorded in the tournament’s history. He followed that up with a 7-3 demolition of Gary Anderson in the final, lifting his second World title and cementing his place in darting history.
While rivals like Peter Wright and Rob Cross tried to challenge his throne, MVG was still the man to beat. He dominated the 2018 Premier League, hit multiple nine-darters, and picked up title after title. But the 2019 World Championship was the moment that really mattered. In a final against Michael Smith, MVG delivered a clinical 7-3 victory, becoming a three-time PDC World Champion and proving, once again, why he was the best in the world.
If there’s one thing MVG does better than anyone, it’s bounce back. In 2022, he silenced the doubters by reclaiming the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, and Players Championship Finals—reminding the world that he was still one of the greatest of all time.
Then, in 2023, he cemented his seventh Premier League title, surpassing Phil Taylor’s record. But at the World Championship, he ran into Michael Smith’s nine-dart perfection in the final—one of the greatest moments in darts history. MVG was runner-up, but his legacy was already untouchable.
After years of dominance, darts was changing. A new wave of talent—Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, and Jonny Clayton—began closing the gap. While MVG still lifted titles like the UK Open and Players Championship Finals, the 2021 World Championship quarter-final defeat to Dave Chisnall (5-0) was a rare moment of vulnerability. For the first time in years, he wasn’t the biggest name in the sport.
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The game keeps evolving, and so does Michael van Gerwen. With Luke Humphries and Luke Littler emerging as new stars, the competition is fiercer than ever. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that you never count out MVG. With his unmatched hunger for winning, there’s always another title around the corner.
The game keeps evolving, and so does Michael van Gerwen. With Luke Humphries and Luke Littler emerging as new stars, the competition is fiercer than ever. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that you never count out MVG. With his unmatched hunger for winning, there’s always another title around the corner.
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EXPLORE
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023
2019
2014, 2017, 2018
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