FLUSH Michael van Gerwen has banked more than £10million in prize money and won 148 PDC titles over 15 years.
Yet despite the fame and fortune, he says winning still matters to him – and that is why he cries tears of joy.
When Van Gerwen, 33, lifted the Players Championship on the last weekend of November – his fourth TV major of this year – he could not contain the waterworks.
The emotion, he says, was because his little girl had asked him to bring home a trophy from Minehead.
When you are so successful for such a long time, it can be hard to maintain the focus and desire.
The late Boxing legend Marvin Hagler once said that “it’s tough to get out of bed to do roadwork at 5am when you’re sleeping in silk pyjamas”.
But regardless of what he wears at night time, Van Gerwen insists he has not lost his appetite or hunger on the oche.
The Dutchman – a three-time world darts champion – is favourite to eliminate Welsh qualifier Lewy Williams this evening.
He said: “I always expect to win otherwise I wouldn’t go. Otherwise I would stay at home.
“That’s all you should have in your mind. If that is not in your mind, it’s not the right mindset.
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“You saw at the Players how much it still means to me. My hunger has not gone.
“I keep promising my daughter the trophies. I want to win it for her.
“I told her I wouldn’t come home empty handed. Of course, I care. I am just human. Every tournament has something special.”
Told that his latest triumph – which had a £100,000 prize – had seen him surpass the £10million mark, Van Gerwen replied: “It’s a lot of money. I need to ask my wife where the money is!
“We are privileged isn’t it? I know that, of course. It’s good. We can be happy with that.
“The PDC have done a good job for us players, we can earn a decent living. I’m happy with that.
“As long as you keep performing, the rest will come automatically.”
