Michael van Gerwen has warned against complacency after starting the 2026 Premier League Darts season with a victory on Night One in Newcastle. The Dutchman, who leads the league table, beat Stephen Bunting and Luke Humphries before defeating compatriot Gian van Veen 6-4 in the final. This marked a perfect start for 'Mighty Mike', who failed to win a single night in last year's campaign.
Van Gerwen, however, is not getting carried away. "The Premier League is always a rollercoaster, so you need to make sure you perform week after week," he said. Reflecting on past experiences, he added, "I've been in a position before when I won three nights in a row and then afterwards I played poorly, so I need to keep my focus and the momentum going." He emphasized that winning the first night means little for the rest of the tournament.
The Dutchman now looks ahead to his opening match on Night Two in Antwerp against debutant Josh Rock. Van Gerwen holds a slight edge in their head-to-head record, having won 8 of their 12 meetings. If he wins this match, he will face the winner of Luke Littler versus Luke Humphries in the semi-finals. Van Gerwen remains confident, stating, "People know what I'm capable of. I don't have to make statements. Everyone still wants to beat me, but more importantly I still want to beat them." He concluded by noting, "There's still a lot of room for improvement, so as long as I keep that in mind, anything is possible."
