Pundit Wayne Mardle has shared what Michael van Gerwen told him last night about his form in the Premier League this season.
The Dutchman has secured his place in the play-offs for this year’s variant of the Premier League, reaching the final last night in Leeds.
He was up against hometown favourite Luke Humprhies, who debuted his new walkout song in his opening game against Rob Cross.
I Predict a Riot by the Kaizer Chiefs went down really well with a crowd who are used to hearing that blare out after wins at Elland Road for Leeds United games.
The crowd were thrilled with the World Champion’s last-leg decider victory, with them in fine voice for the entire evening.
There has been plenty of discussion over Van Gerwen’s form in the competition as a whole this season, with pundits claiming that he is way off the boil.
Van Gerwen tells Mardle he’s not playing well
It seems the Dutchman himself is of the same opinion, although Mardle did share on Sky Sports that he had a warning for his other players who have let him qualify for finals night.
He said: “I was just speaking to Michael van Gerwen and he said to me ‘I’ve played poorly and I’ve won four weeks, just wait until I play well.’ It’s all about the playoffs anyone who has a tiny bit of form has a chance.
“Look at Van Gerwen last year, he wasn’t the main man heading into the playoffs, it was Gerwyn Price, but Van Gerwen who was the one who came away with the Premier League trophy.”
Luke Littler and Humphries will also be in attendance at the 02 in London in two weeks’ time, while they will be joined by one of Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith.
The two Englishmen will meet in the first round of next week’s competition, with the winner being the one who will book his place in the final four.