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'I'll Never Match Phil Taylor' - 'Mighty' Michael Van Gerwen

'I'll Never Match Phil Taylor' - 'Mighty' Michael Van Gerwen

The world number one speaks to SPORTbible.

Michael Minay

Michael Minay

In terms of the number of titles, he's up there with the best, in terms of being number one currently, Michael van Gerwen is THE best.

The world number one, current world and Premier League champion faces Peter Wright tonight in Liverpool - a man who MvG has had his fair share of heated matches against in the past.

"It's odd because me and Peter get on really well," MvG told SPORTbible. "The television makes a thing between us, but we really do get on well.

"The only thing we disagree on is his dress sense. Peter dresses like a clown. It's funny."

Credit: Sky Sports

If Wright is the clown, then Adrian 'Jackpot' Lewis is the support act.

"We try and wind everybody up," Van Gerwen said of his good pal. "But we also get him back. Last year, Phil [Taylor], Gary [Anderson], and Raymond [Van Barneveld] kept tweeting him on finals night saying 'wish you were here' after he failed to make the top four."

MvG currently tops the Premier League pile, but has 'Snakebite' Wright lurking just behind him. A win for Wright tonight could seem him move about the two-time world champion.

"Tonight, I need to make the difference," said Van Gerwen. "I'm the big favourite, and am full of confidence. Peter has improved so I need to make sure I'm playing well."

The Dutchman could have been a footballer but realised that was never going to happen pretty early on.

"I could play football for 24 hours a day, but I'm shit," he says.

"I love watching football, but don't have much time for it. PSV [his club] won't win the title. Dutch football has suffered recently. We're on a small country and the national team is struggling. It's absolutely terrible. Everything needs to be fixed from the front line to the goalie.

"The top players are not really in teams where they can be doing well. Look at Sneijder and Van Persie in the Turkish League."

After converting to darts, he soon realised he had a natural talent. Something, with his busy life, he's had to rely on recently.

"There's no motivation, when you're a kid, than winning a trophy. I realised that I was better than other guys my age," said the darting sensation.

"My wife is pregnant at the moment, plus we're getting a new house. The practice is slipping through a little. I have a great ability though so am relying on that talent."

The bald-headed master was sent a baby grow in the post by a fan, emblazoned with his initials on it. Sadly, it's not for him to wear on the oche. His baby girl is due in August. Could she be a prodigy? It's hockey or tennis according to MvG.

The pressure to be good at darts is all on him.

Credit: PA

"People expect a lot from me, but that's all to do with myself," says 'Mighty Mike'. "I've done so well over the last few years, so everyone expects nothing less than a win.

And he's already looking to improve. When asked of his record average, Van Gerwen's reply was: "It was a phenomenal night, I could have had a better average had I not missed three darts at doubles."

Having won everything in the game, MvG is surely in line to beat Phil Taylor's record of 16 world titles? Not according to the man chasing another 14 just to match him.

Van Gerwen said: "I don't think anyone will do it again. I want to be retired by the time I'm 40-45, so I've got what, about 15 years left in me.

"It's not possible to match Phil. The level at the moment is too difficult. You need to be realistic."

Realism is difficult when the Dutchman continues to roll out the big averages, and smash his opponents out the park.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Darts