Chris Mason has questioned whether Michael van Gerwen should play in the Premier League Darts in 2027, suggesting the Dutchman might be better off sitting out to rebuild his throw and confidence. Van Gerwen, a seven-time Premier League champion, has dropped out of the top 10 in the world and struggled for form, and Mason believes the weekly grind of the Premier League could do more harm than good.
"I would probably knock it on the head for a year personally, but I’m not sure what Michael’s thoughts are at the moment," Mason told Online Darts. "Listen, he still loves playing darts, so it would be hard for him. But for me, it would be about trying to rebuild his throw and rebuild his confidence. If you’re struggling and your confidence is a bit shot, do you want to be playing in what is probably the toughest environment, because it should have the eight best players in it, every week and getting bashed up? Not for me."
Mason acknowledged van Gerwen's stature in the game, comparing his impact to that of Phil Taylor. "For me, he’s stepped into Phil Taylor’s shoes almost and carried the sport on his shoulders for many years," Mason said. "It wouldn’t even be a question for me if he went down to 25 in the rankings. Michael is in there. Maybe a year on, if there’s nothing, but not first time around. This is his first slip, apart from when he initially started playing PDC darts. They’ve almost done it as a testimonial, although I’m not saying it’s exactly that. They did it with Barney, didn’t they? They’ve done it with other players."
Van Gerwen's recent results have been below his usual standards. Aside from the World Cup of Darts, he has failed to reach a major quarter-final, with one floor title and two European Tour semi-finals to his name. Mason also raised practical concerns about a year away from the Premier League. "You’ve got to remember as well that he might have to play in the European Tour events or qualifiers. Where does all that fit in? It’s going to be tough on him."
Despite his suggestion, Mason admitted the decision is complex. "Maybe he’s up for it, but I’d probably say he’s got nothing left to prove. You don’t need to do it for the money. For the longevity of whatever’s left of his career, would missing a year harm him? Probably. I suppose you’ve got to think about sponsorship as well, which is another dynamic. It’s a tough choice, but ultimately he’ll make the right choice for what’s best for Michael."
