Commentator Elmar Paulke and former Tour Card holder Florian Hempel have discussed Michael van Gerwen's future amid a potential slide down the rankings, with Paulke stating he "can hardly imagine him bouncing around the circuit as number 24." The pair reflected on van Gerwen's dominant era on the "Game On" podcast, noting his 2016 UK Open title defense made him only the third player after Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld to achieve that feat, a club Luke Littler joined this past weekend.
Hempel recalled van Gerwen's impact, saying, "There isn't much of that left in the Man in Green, who doesn't even play in green anymore," and praised his record averages and dominance on the European Tour, Pro Tour, and Premier League. Paulke highlighted van Gerwen's aggressive style, citing his 2016 UK Open semifinal comeback from 1-4 down against Phil Taylor as an example where "you didn't feel for a second that he could lose." Hempel added that van Gerwen brought a "completely different vibe" with emotional outbursts, influencing a new generation despite later criticism of similar behavior in players like Gerwyn Price.
However, both experts pointed to changes in van Gerwen's life affecting his performance. Paulke suggested van Gerwen struggles without full focus on darts, noting his earlier dedication included playing pub tournaments in the Netherlands. Hempel cited private issues, health topics, and reduced hunger after long-term success, saying, "Those last three percent of hunger for the next title or the next prize money just fade." Paulke also mentioned family responsibilities as a distraction, comparing van Gerwen's situation to Luke Littler's, who "still lives with his parents."
Despite a strong start to the 2026 season with wins in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and a Premier League night victory, health setbacks like antibiotics use disrupted his form. At the UK Open, van Gerwen played well against Nathan Aspinall but lost 3-10 to James Wade, with Paulke sensing he "no longer dares to step on stage with that presence." Hempel noted van Gerwen's self-image issues, as past boasts about beating everyone now lack backing from results. Paulke raised the question of "What does van Gerwen bring in 2026?" with Hempel summarizing that, as it stands, he drops to 24th in the world rankings. While Hempel believes van Gerwen is "too young to quit," Paulke finds the prospect of him as world number 24 surreal.
