Analyst and former professional darter Matthew Edgar believes Michael van Gerwen is showing signs of his former self, despite a recent illness setback. Speaking on Online Darts, Edgar noted that Van Gerwen had a strong start to the year, winning a World Series event, reaching another final, and bagging a nightly win in the Premier League. "I think it's a shame he fell ill recently because he played exceptional on the ProTour. He won that Premier League night and was looking brilliant at the start of the year," Edgar said.
Edgar emphasized that 2026 is a crucial season for the three-time world champion, with his ranking under pressure as he defends prize money, notably from the World Championship. "Right now, on the year-to-end rankings, he's 21st, so outside the top 16—and that's because he's defending that World Championship money," Edgar explained. He added that there's a genuine scenario where Van Gerwen could fall outside the world's top 16 due to strong competition.
From clips and highlights, Edgar observed a resurgence in Van Gerwen's demeanor. "From what I've seen—I shouldn't be judging off that—but what I do see, I see the cheeky chappy back again. There's swagger about him again," he stated. Edgar highlighted a specific moment where Van Gerwen put his arm around Luke Humphries and gave him a little tap, interpreting it as a sign of confidence. "When I watched that, I'm thinking Michael van Gerwen right now—in that video, as an assessment—he's the daddy. He's the guy in control of this moment."
Recent results offer hope, with Van Gerwen reaching a Pro Tour semi-final, where he lost to an inspired Luke Humphries. However, Edgar remains cautious, noting that the jury is out on the rest of the season. "It's one of them where the jury's out. I kind of don't have a direct opinion on the direction it's going to go, because you can make a valid case either way round," he concluded, refusing to deliver a definitive verdict on whether Van Gerwen will win more events this year.
