Van Gerwen claims former world champion was the biggest cheater in the game.

According to Michael van Gerwen, former world champion Adrian Lewis was no stranger to using sneaky tactics on the darts stage. Van Gerwen claims that Lewis would do just about anything to throw his opponents off their game, saying, "He would pull out all the stops to throw you off your game." The two have had some epic battles on the World Championship, Matchplay, and Premier League stages, back when Lewis was still at the top of his game.

Although Van Gerwen ultimately came out on top in their rivalry, he remembers Lewis making it extremely difficult for him. It wasn't just Lewis' impressive throwing skills that posed a challenge, but also his "dark arts" strategies that Van Gerwen says he hasn't seen from any other player. "Honestly, Lewis has cheated his whole life," Van Gerwen boldly stated in an interview with Sportnieuws.nl podcast Darts Draait Door. "There was no bigger cheater than him. You should ask Phil Taylor or Raymond van Barneveld. Lewis did nothing but talk behind you and stomp. He pulled out all the stops to throw you off your game. And then afterwards playing the murdered innocent, right? I've said it to him regularly."

Van Gerwen and Lewis have faced off dozens of times, with the latter not competing on television since the 2023 UK Open due to personal issues taking his focus away from darts. In an interview with William Hill's Club 50, the 39-year-old explained his absence from the circuit, citing a lack of motivation and his wife's incurable kidney disease as major factors. He also shared that his daughter, who has autism, requires a lot of care and it's difficult for him to leave everything in the hands of his wife.

Despite his absence from the professional tour, Lewis has not retired and plans to participate in amateur events next year. He also mentioned the possibility of returning to the professional circuit. "Jason Thame asked me if I wanted to take part in the MODUS Series and I was a bit apprehensive but I told him that we'd give it a go next year," Lewis shared. "I'm going to do plenty of exhibitions and corporates with them and once I've done the series next year, I'll see where I'm at with my game. If I'm enjoying it, then I'll look to keep it going and go to Q School."

Lewis, who was back-to-back world champion in 2011 and 2012, still has a passion for the sport and is not ready to hang up his darts just yet. It remains to be seen if he will make a comeback on the professional stage, but for now, fans can catch him at amateur events and exhibitions.

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