The Premier League is feeling the force of an MVG backlash, says Wayne Mardle
Friday 13 February 2015 10:03, UK
Wayne Mardle believes Michael van Gerwen is more motivated than ever to win the Premier League after losing his world crown.
Well I must admit I tipped him at the outset and I think he’s an absolute certainty to make the play-offs.
The Dutchman endured bitter disappointment earlier this year when he was beaten by Gary Anderson in the World Championship semi-finals, but has produced a superb response in recent weeks.
After winning two UK Open qualifiers at the weekend, ‘Mighty Mike’ continued his red-hot run with a 7-3 victory over Stephen Bunting and tops the table after round two of the Premier League in Bournemouth.
Sky Sports expert Mardle backed the 2013 champion to claim the title and has been hugely impressed with his single-minded approach since that Ally Pally exit.
“Well, I must admit I tipped him at the outset and I think he’s an absolute certainty to make the play-offs,” said Mardle. “I don’t think there are four better players in this Premier League who can keep him out.
“But the way he has reacted to losing in the World Championships, what a mindset. He just wants to go on - a bit like Phil Taylor - win the next tournament, win the next tournament, he doesn’t care that there is another 11 months until the World Championships.
“He wants to win everything up until then and then the worlds.”
Van Gerwen ended with an average of over 109 and secured the two points with a sizzling 138 checkout.
Fellow pundit Rod Harrington believes van Gerwen is maturing as a player and expects even more from the 25-year-old in the coming years.
“Well it shows what a class player he is,” said Harrington. “A lot of players would think: ‘I’ve lost my world title, it could take a another two months to get my form back’, but he didn’t, he bounced back straight away.
“We always knew what Michael van Gerwen had the ability, but now he’s got the class, he can get over those obstacles that are going to get thrown at him and he will get stronger as his career goes on.”
A meeting with his conqueror Anderson lies ahead in Liverpool next week and Harrington is expecting fireworks.
He said: “I’m looking forward to that game. It could be one of the best games of the year. We’ve got the world champion against the world No 1.”
