Michael van Gerwen showed talent at young age, says Martin Adams

Michael van Gerwen showed early signs that he could reach the very top in darts, says three-time BDO world champion Martin Adams.

World No 1 Van Gerwen will target the Premier League trophy in this Thursday's Play-Off night at The O2, live on Sky Sports 2.

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But the 59-year-old Adams first came across the Dutchman when he was a youngster and the pair have shared four matches, with both men winning two apiece.

"I think the first time I ever saw Michael would have been an exhibition night in Holland," Adams told Sky Sports.

"I can't remember what year, but he struck me as a very talented young player.

He was a young player, who was good at what he was doing, and he looked like he could have a good future.

"He was very young. He looked like he should have been in bed and not playing out as it were. He knew how to score, how to count. That's always a big bonus in any darts match.

"He was a young player, who was good at what he was doing, and he looked like he could have a good future. He certainly had a talent for it."

'Wolfie' Adams was beaten 7-5 by a 17-year-old Van Gerwen in the 2006 World Masters final, but 'Mighty Mike' then endured a worrying slump in form.

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Van Gerwen has since re-emerged as the sport's top player and Adams believes young talents need time to develop their mental strength.

Adams said: "No, I wouldn't say I was surprised, no. He had a spell when he first went to the PDC where nothing went right at all and you did question his mind. 'Will he ever come out of that slump and climb back up?'

"Something clicks and I think he stopped thinking about it and just concentrated on his darts and winning.

"If they're thinking too much about it, thinking about who they're playing, and how good that player is - forget all that. Just get on and play your game. Think about how good you are. You know how good you are - go and prove it. Don't tell me how good you, show me.

"You've got to have self-belief, you've got to not worry about your opponent, worry too much about what he's going to do. You'll be seeing what he's going to do, because he'll be doing it in front of you.

"Take advantage of his mistakes, his mistakes will be missed doubles. Take advantage of that and that's what Michael does. He does it very, very well."

Van Gerwen set a record average of 123.4 earlier in the Premier League season, the highest mark in the history of televised darts.

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Adams insists sky-high averages are a regular occurrence, although he accepts that Van Gerwen might not ever hit those scoring heights again in front of the cameras.

"My guess is, that's not the highest ever average that's been recorded somewhere," he said. "It might be the highest ever recorded on telly.

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"Those sort of games will crop up so often by different players. It could be Michael's most exceptional game of all time and ever. He might not ever achieve again, he may do, he may not.

"I don't read too much into it personally. If you've got the rub of the green, you take advantage of it."

Watch the Premier League Darts play-offs from The O2 Arena on Thursday at 7pm, Sky Sports 2.