Michael van Gerwen Makes Triumphant Return to Darts at Modus Event in Belgium
Michael van Gerwen, the three-time world champion in darts, has made his much-anticipated return to competitive play at a Modus event in Waregem, Belgium, this past Saturday. This marks his first appearance since he announced his separation from his wife, Daphne Govers, in May. The 36-year-old Dutchman had previously withdrawn from the Dutch Darts Championship due to personal reasons and has not participated in the PDC Tour since that time.
Sharing his excitement on social media platform X, van Gerwen posted a video of his entrance, exclaiming, "What a phenomenal atmosphere this evening!" The Modus entertainment company is well-known for hosting engaging dart events across the UK and Europe, attracting professional players and fostering audience involvement. Van Gerwen’s participation at this event is a promising sign of his potential return to regular competition.
In a surprising departure from his trademark attire, van Gerwen opted for a sleek black shirt instead of the iconic bright green that has become synonymous with his presence on stage. This change in attire marks only the second occasion in 15 years that he has altered his signature look. Previously, he donned a green shirt at Modus exhibition events, with his only other deviation being a special black and gold edition at the Winmau World Masters in January, celebrating five years with his sponsors.
Despite the shift in appearance, the Belgian crowd warmly welcomed van Gerwen, indicating strong support for the Dutch star as he takes his initial steps back into the competitive darts scene following personal challenges.
Van Gerwen and Daphne Govers, who married in 2014 and share two children, announced their separation earlier this year. Following this announcement, he stated that he would be stepping back from all PDC events for an indefinite period. His absence from the sport has been notable, as he missed key tournaments, including the European Tour event in Rosmalen and the World Cup of Darts in Germany, where Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen represented the Netherlands, reaching the quarter-finals.
This withdrawal marked a significant shift for van Gerwen, a prominent figure in the darts world who has consistently participated on the professional circuit until this recent personal crisis. His form had declined prior to his break, with his only tournament victory in 2025 coming at the German Darts Grand Prix, following his defeat to Luke Littler in the World Championship final at Alexandra Palace in January.
Looking ahead, the next major PDC event is the Baltic Sea Darts Open, scheduled for July 11-13 in Kiel, Germany. Notably, van Gerwen did not participate in this tournament last year. His return at the Belgian exhibition suggests a gradual comeback to competition may be on the horizon. However, no official announcement has been made regarding his return to the PDC Tour, leaving fans and fellow professionals eagerly anticipating when the former world number one will resume his regular schedule.
As the darts community watches closely, Michael van Gerwen’s journey back to the sport promises to be captivating and full of potential.
