Michael van Gerwen Withdraws from Premier League Darts Due to Medical Issue
Darts superstar Michael van Gerwen has been forced to withdraw from Thursday night's Premier League round in Glasgow due to illness. The Dutchman, a record seven-time winner of the tournament, will miss the OVO Hydro event after being ruled out with a confirmed "medical issue".
PDC Confirms Van Gerwen's Absence
A statement from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) confirmed the news, stating: "Michael van Gerwen has withdrawn from Thursday’s BetMGM Premier League action in Glasgow due to illness. The seven-time Premier League champion has been ruled out of night three at the OVO Hydro tonight due to a medical issue."
Van Gerwen currently leads the Premier League table after the opening two nights of competition, making his absence particularly significant for the tournament standings.
Luke Littler Receives Bye into Semi-Finals
Van Gerwen's withdrawal means a highly anticipated quarter-final clash against teenage sensation Luke Littler will not go ahead as scheduled. Littler, a two-time world champion, will now receive a bye directly into the semi-final round.
In the semi-finals, Littler will await the winner of the match between Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price. This development provides Littler with an unexpected advantage as he seeks to improve his position in the tournament.
Details Emerge About Van Gerwen's Condition
Vincent van der Voort, Van Gerwen's compatriot and fellow darts professional, revealed on the Darts Draait Door podcast that his friend has "picked something up" and is currently taking antibiotics to treat the condition.
The specific nature of the medical issue has not been disclosed, but the use of antibiotics suggests an infection of some kind that requires treatment and rest.
Impact on Premier League Standings and Format
The Premier League darts tournament is contested by eight elite players across 16 weeks of competition. Players earn points based on their performance each night: semi-finalists receive two points, finalists get three points, and the winner of each night earns five valuable points.
The top four players in the standings after the 16 weeks will advance to Finals Night at London's O2 Arena on 28 May, where Luke Humphries will aim to defend the title he won last year.
Littler's Tournament Performance So Far
Van Gerwen's absence represents a potential boost for Luke Littler, who has experienced a somewhat slow start to this year's Premier League campaign. On the opening night in Newcastle, Littler was defeated in his quarter-final match by Gian van Veen.
Van Veen's victory provided a measure of revenge after losing to Littler in their World Championship final clash just last month. Littler did manage to get on the scoreboard last week in Antwerp, winning a final-leg thriller against Luke Humphries.
However, Littler then fell short against Van Gerwen in their semi-final encounter, with Van Gerwen subsequently being beaten by Gerwyn Price in the final match of that night.
The unexpected bye gives Littler an opportunity to advance further in the tournament without having to face one of his toughest competitors, potentially changing the dynamics of the Glasgow night and the overall Premier League standings.
