Michael van Gerwen has shrugged off criticism after footage emerged of him enjoying a night out in Dublin with Luke Humphries following Premier League Darts action. The outing came after Van Gerwen, the current world number four, lost 6-5 to Luke Littler in the semi-finals on Thursday, March 26, 2026, having skipped the quarter-finals due to Gian van Veen's withdrawal. Humphries also fell in the semi-finals, losing 6-1 to Gerwyn Price.
Van Gerwen downplayed the event, telling De Telegraaf, "Going out? That's a bit of an exaggeration." He admitted heading home early for a flight, saying, "I had an early flight, so by five to six I was already on the plane." Despite the losses, video showed the pair with arms around each other, singing in an Irish bar. Criticism followed, including from his friend Vincent van der Voort, who said, "He's building, it's a very important year and he's saying that everywhere. And then you go out. Personally, I don't think it's very smart, but it's also not for me."
Van Gerwen responded defiantly, stating, "Let them talk. I really don't care at all. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, that doesn't bother me." He acknowledged reflecting on such moments, adding, "Sometimes at this age you do things that later make you think: was that really necessary? No, but at the time you're just having a good time." The Dutchman emphasized the pressure of 2026, a crucial year after two lean seasons, saying, "People make a big deal out of it and try to read into everything. If you've had two bad years, you know you have to perform in the years after, otherwise you'll fall down the rankings. It's that simple."
Aside from winning the first Premier League night this year, Van Gerwen's only other 2026 title is the Bahrain Darts Masters in January. He noted, "I've had ups and downs, which is why I'll be going back to the floor tournaments next week to build rhythm," referencing disappointing results at the World Masters and antibiotics he took weeks later. Looking ahead to the eighth Premier League night in Berlin, he welcomed back Gian van Veen, who missed Dublin due to kidney stones, saying, "You're dealing with players, not robots. You can't expect someone to be there for seventeen straight weeks—that's almost impossible."
