Michael van Gerwen has been out of form over recent months, leading to questions over if he has lost his "hunger". Van Gerwen has only been beyond his opening appearance once in his last five tournaments when he lost to Scott Williams in the quarter-finals of Players Championship 30. Besides that, he suffered an opening-round exit to Ryan Joyce at the World Grand Prix, lost to Daryl Gurney at the World Series of Darts Finals, lost to Benjamin Pratnemer in Players Championship 29, and against Damon Heta in the Flanders Darts Trophy.
Speaking on his own stream, Van Gerwen said he was "annoyed" at his recent Grand Prix result that he believes he should have won. However, speaking on the Love the Darts podcast, Colin Lloyd admitted he was worried that the Dutchman no longer had the "fire" and if he took a break, he may not return. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "It was a free hit.
I don't want to say he wasn't ready for it, but he didn't look comfortable," Lloyd said. "There has been some odd results throughout the last six to eight months where you think everything seems to be going well. "Michael has had a lot going on in his private life.
He loves spending time with his kids and whatever. Perhaps just that little bit of hunger's gone. That little bit of hunger's gone.
"There's no question that Michael's still a class player but it is just a case of - when you start losing that little bit of hunger and you lose that little bit of fire in you. "I don't personally believe that if Michael van Gerwen steps away, you won't see Michael van Gerwen come back. "He won't come back because financially he's set.
He can spend so much more time with the kids and he can put in the odd exhibitions here and there, the odd appearances here and there. "He has been doing it since he was 17. He won the World Masters at 17 years old, which is 20 years ago or whatever it is.
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