Overview

• Van Gerwen announced his separation from wife Daphne in May and took a one-month break to focus on training and recovery.
• His late-June return at World Series events in New York and Poland resulted in two defeats from four matches and underwhelming performances.
• Veteran friend Vincent van der Voort has publicly voiced concern over van Gerwen’s mental state and stage presence, likening him to a “walking corpse.”
• The three-time PDC world champion has slid to 27th in the annual rankings, marking his lowest position in years.
• The World Matchplay runs July 19–27 at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens and is regarded as the PDC’s second-most prestigious tournament.