PDC World Darts Championship 2025: Michael van Gerwen on Luke Littler's ‘Fear Factor’ and Potential Saudi Move

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen heads into the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship in unfamiliar territory. 

"The Green Machine," finds himself labelled as an underdog by bookmakers, ranked fourth favourite to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy.

Ahead of him in the odds are reigning champion Luke Humphries, teenage prodigy and last year’s runner-up Luke Littler, and two-time world champion Gary Anderson, who has enjoyed a resurgence in form. 

Despite the predictions, van Gerwen is brimming with confidence, dismissing any notion that his chances are diminished.

Earlier this week, SportsBoom attended the PDC World Darts Championship pre-event media day and Sky Sports draw, where van Gerwen shared his thoughts on the tournament, the competition, and recent changes in the sport.

“Am I scared of him? Not a chance!”

The draw has positioned van Gerwen on the opposite side of the bracket from favourites Humphries and Littler, paving the way for a potential final clash with one of the two.

Littler, the 17-year-old sensation, enters the tournament as the bookmakers’ favourite and is widely regarded as the current player to beat. However, van Gerwen is unfazed by the hype surrounding the young star.

“I think it's media, but it's the total combination. Of course, he's a good player. Of course, he has the media attention. Everything goes his way at the moment because he's in the flow,” said van Gerwen, downplaying Littler’s so-called “fear factor.”

Pundits have claimed that van Gerwen has lost his once-intimidating presence on the oche, with many arguing that Littler is now the sport’s most feared competitor. The Dutchman, however, disputes this notion, citing his own success against Littler this year.

“But still I'm not playing my best, and he still didn't beat me more than I beat at him,” van Gerwen remarked.

Statistics reveal their head-to-head record this season is actually tied at six wins each, but van Gerwen remained defiant.

“Am I scared of him? Not a chance!” he declared emphatically.

A Potential Move for the World Darts Championship?

The conversation shifted to recent comments by PDC chairman Barry Hearn regarding the possibility of relocating the World Darts Championship from London’s iconic Alexandra Palace to a larger venue. 

Speculation has grown that Saudi Arabia could be a potential host, given the General Entertainment Authority's existing partnerships with Hearn in boxing and snooker.

Van Gerwen offered a candid assessment of the PDC’s motivations.

“They just follow where the money is, isn't it? It's a big, huge company, and they're businessmen, and they've been doing well for darts in the last however many years,” he said, acknowledging the organisation’s track record.

While van Gerwen respects the PDC’s business acumen, he voiced concerns about how such a move might impact the atmosphere and fan experience that make the World Championship unique.

“The answer is, are you still going to get the spectators you want to get. So that's a difficult answer,” he admitted.

Still, van Gerwen made it clear he’s willing to play anywhere, regardless of location.

“But I'm not an organiser. I'm a darts player. Wherever they let me know, 48 hours before, wherever it is, as long as it’s not on Pluto, I'll be there wherever it is in the world. I don’t care where it is,” he concluded with a grin.