Many have seen it Łukasz MałyrPDC World Darts Championship victory as a potential changing of the guard that ushered in Michael van Gerwen era. Phil Taylor he thinks the new employees don’t care about his reputation and his fear factor is gone.
Van Gerwen, who took over as world No. 1 from Taylor in 2014, dominated the sport for almost 10 years before the new era of names dawned. They ushered in a new era of brand new winners and a sport that degenerated into a lottery due to a predetermined outcome.
Talking about Littler to The Mirror, he mentions how before players were intimidated and scared to death by Van Gerwen’s game, but now they enjoy it. He also added that he’s not sure where MVG will end up.
“Youth now are fearless, even dismissive. They don’t care who you are or what you’ve done – they’re not afraid of anyone, you’re there to be beaten. Michael intimidated his opponents and scared them to death. They would see that green shirt and they would melt, but I think the fear factor is gone now,” Taylor said Mirror.
“He had chances to win the first two sets, and when he didn’t take them, he was like a rabbit in the headlights, and when it was 4-0, there was no going back. It comes to all of us. Michael has been a fantastic fighter for a long time and only he knows if the fire still burns so hot, but he was well beaten.
Van Gerwen has no major titles under his belt for the first time, and his 2024 collection outside of major televised tournaments hasn’t been much to complain about either. As he goes back to the drawing board, is a new era dawning or does MVG still have that drive to get back to his best?
