Michael van Gerwen withdraws from Premier League Darts hours earlier than occasion

Michael van Gerwen has withdrawn from Premier League Darts hours before the event.

Premier League Darts is in Berlin on Thursday evening, but there will be no Mighty Mike taking the oche. A statement read: “Michael van Gerwen has withdrawn from Thursday’s BetMGM Premier League night in Berlin due to a shoulder injury.

“The Dutchman had been hoping to continue his run of success in the Premier League’s visits to the Uber Arena, which include victories in the 2022 Play-Offs and last year’s league night.

“However, a shoulder injury has meant that Van Gerwen has withdrawn from the event.

“His scheduled quarter-final opponent, Gerwyn Price, receives a Bye through to the semi-finals under tournament rules, taking 2 league points and +1 leg difference.

“Van Gerwen receives no league points and -6 leg difference.”

Price’s bye into the semi-finals will see him take on either Luke Littler or Chris Dobey. While Stephen Bunting and Nathan Aspinall will kick off the action, and they’re in the same side of the bracket as Luke Humphries and Rob Cross.

Speaking ahead of the action, Price revealed he had also been battling an injury: “I’ve been struggling with a bit of an injury over the last week, and it’s still not 100%.

“It was nice to get another win on the ProTour this week, and this gives me a good confidence boost going into the Premier League on Thursday.

“I was 4-1 up against Michael on the European Tour the other week and I lost 6-4. It doesn’t matter how well you’re playing, these players can come back and beat you, so I need to be at the top of my game.”

Meanwhile, Littler is looking to win his fifth evening after just nine weeks. He said: “I never really say I’m the best in the world, but I am performing at a really good level at the moment.

“I’m playing too well for players not to be thinking about playing me, rather than just playing the board. I’m sitting comfortably at the top of the table now, so hopefully I should be even more settled going into the next few weeks.

“I want to finish top of the table again, I want to go back-to-back, but my main goal now is to get my fifth nightly win in Berlin.”