Michael van Gerwen’s brand new look as he aims to upset Luke Littler at World Championship
Darts maestro Michael van Gerwen is set to sport a noticeably slimmer figure when he takes to the oche at this year’s World Darts Championship. The Dutch darts ace is gearing up for his quest for a fourth world title this month, with his first-round match against Mitsuhiko Tatsunami scheduled for next Thursday.
Van Gerwen has shed “more than 20 kilos” over the past year and has spoken about his transformation ahead of the tournament. The darts legend announced in June that he was separating from his wife Daphne Govers after 10 years of marriage, while his father is currently battling cancer. Despite these personal challenges, the 36-year-old is determined to focus on his pursuit of a fourth PDC World Championship. He recently shared insights into his weight loss journey, acknowledging there’s still progress to be made.
“I’ve lost more than 20 kilos and we’re not there yet,” he said during a recent appearance on the Darts Draait Door podcast. “I still need to drop about 10 [kilos].”
He attributed part of his weight loss to conscious changes he has made in his life but also acknowledged the role stress has played. And it’s understandable given the personal struggles he has had to face over the past 12 months.
“Part of it comes from living and moving consciously, but part was due to stress,” he continued. “In a long relationship you fall into a rut where you don’t put yourself first. Now I do, and that matters.”
Despite his dramatic weight loss, Van Gerwen admitted he’s no gym enthusiast. Instead, he’s turned to padel, a racquet sport, for his cardio workouts, explaining this form of exercise suits him best.
“I find the gym mind-numbing,” added the three-time Ally Pally champion. “On the padel court you meet people, it’s fun and it keeps me active. A lesson now and then, that suits me. I need to work on myself a bit, that’s only sensible.”
The process doesn’t have to be a serious one, either. Van Gerwen acknowledged as much when close friend and fellow PDC player Vincent van der Voort noted how sponsor Winmau is struggling to keep up with Van Gerwen’s changing size.
Van Gerwen, who issued a stern warning to Luke Littler ahead of his Ally Pally return next week, responded: “I’m not going to throw in pajamas, am I? And I don’t have a six-pack either, I’m no Brad Pitt.”
Van der Voort went on to comment that not all the weight loss was intentional. He appeared alongside his companion to share his view on his compatriot’s transformation.
“At first he lost weight quickly because of stress,” said ‘The Dutch Destroyer’. “He would just not eat all day, also because he didn’t feel hungry. Then it goes fast.”
Van Gerwen has been seen sporting a more svelte frame at recent competitions. The PDC superstar has reached two major finals in 2025, losing to Luke Littler in the last World Championship final before getting his revenge at the World Series of Darts decider in September.
He also triumphed over fellow Dutchman Gian van Veen to secure the German Darts Grand Prix crown in April. However, his personal issues began to take a toll when he had to pull out of several Players Championship events, missing out on the Finals for the first time in his career as a consequence.
Given his remarkable achievements at such a young age, it’s easy to overlook that the darts legend still has many competitive years ahead should he choose to continue. And fans are eagerly anticipating the Ally Pally favourite’s return to form in London this month.
