May 23rd 2024.
Michael van Gerwen may be the reigning and seven-time Premier League Darts champion, but he's not letting that get to his head. As he heads into the Premier League Play-Offs, he knows he's not the top pick to take home the trophy. And he's perfectly okay with that.
In fact, out of the four remaining players - himself, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler, and Michael Smith - MVG is the only one with prior experience winning the event. However, despite this advantage, the bookmakers seem to favor the debutantes Littler and Humphries. But Mighty Mike isn't bothered by this. He thrives on playing in front of big crowds and welcomes the pressure on everyone's shoulders.
"I won't be the favorite, I know that," he told Sky Sports. "But nobody would bet against me. Last year, I wasn't the favorite and I still won. It doesn't matter."
Although MVG had a strong start, winning three nights in a row in February, his luck hasn't been the same since April 11th. But he remains confident and hungry for another win. "I think I'm in good shape and I believe I can do it again. When things don't go your way, it just makes you even more eager to succeed," he explained.
In the semi-finals, MVG will face off against Luke Humphries, who is also feeling confident in his abilities. But he knows he's up against a formidable opponent in MVG, who has seven Premier League titles under his belt. "Seven-time Premier League champion, I know I've got my work cut out," said Humphries. "This is his territory, so it's up to me to try and dethrone him and make it to the final."
MVG also recognizes the talent and potential of his fellow semi-finalists, Littler and Smith. "Luke has been playing the darts of his life over the last few months," he acknowledged. "What he has done over the last six months has been fantastic. But it won't last forever, and I want to be the man who stops him!"
Despite the competition, MVG is determined to come out on top and add another Premier League title to his impressive record. "When people do well against you, you have to wake up. You can't afford any mistakes. The semi-finalists are all great to watch, with their high-scoring power. But I just have to make sure I'm better," he declared.
As the four players arrive in the capital for the highly-anticipated event, it's clear that the competition will be fierce. But MVG is ready to fight for the title and prove that he's still the one to beat.
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