Michael van Gerwen will be leaving nothing to chance this Christmas as he bids to win a fourth PDC World Championship crown at Ally Pally.
'The Green Machine' has returned to his native Holland after beating Lewis Williams 3-0 in his second round match, and will enjoy a festive lunch on Sunday with wife Daphne and their two children. But he won't be hanging around for dessert, planning to make the 305-mile drive back to London the same day.
Van Gerwen does not face Mensur Suljovic until Wednesday. But with Eurostar trains on Boxing Day cancelled due to RMT train strikes, and the Eurotunnel services and Channel ferries expected to be extremely busy, the three-time champion has explained why he's leaving nothing to chance.
“I’m a little bit edgy about all the strikes in England – on Eurostar, with the border control – which doesn’t make it easy," he told The Sun. “But I’m coming back Christmas Day in the evening, to give myself an extra day.
“I hope the queues are not that long. I’ve never travelled on Christmas Day before – I’ve either stayed in London or come back on Boxing Day."
The 33-year-old's paranoia is perhaps understandable, given that in 2020 he planned to drive home for Christmas only to have to dramatically alter plans due to continental borders being shut. Last year things got worse still, and he was forced to withdraw from his third round tie with Chris Dobey, and the tournament, after testing positive for Covid-19.
But the world No.3 has been in explosive form this year, winning the Premier League title to go with his World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, and Players Championship wins. And he seems determined to now end a five-year wait to again win the big one.
“I’m the man to beat, even in the bad times when I couldn’t win a tournament, they were always most happy when they beat me," he said. "But I have brought that on myself by playing really well for the last 10 years. I’ll take it on the chin when that happens – but it’s not going to happen at this world championship.”
Earlier this year, van Gerwen opted to miss the World Cup of Darts to undergo surgery on his arm, after being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. But it hasn't affected his form, with many pundits making him favourite to prevail at the Ally Pally.
