Michael van Gerwen has pulled out of this weekend’s Dutch Darts Championship after releasing a statement announcing he and his wife Daphne have separated. 

The Dutchman’s withdrawal from the tournament means scheduled opponent Mickey Mansell will now receive a bye into the third round.

Van Gerwen apologised to fans in a statement posted to X on Saturday while asking for privacy for him and his family.

“It is with great sadness that I inform you that Daphne and I have decided to end our relationship,” Van Gerwen wrote.

“As a result, I have withdrawn from the upcoming tournament.

“I am sorry to disappoint my fans, but I trust that they will understand my decision.

“We are going through difficult times and ask everyone to respect our privacy during this difficult time.”

Van Gerwen saw his Premier League campaign come to an end on Thursday as he was beaten by Nathan Aspinall to miss out on a place in the Play-Offs at The O2 arena.

It was just the second time in 13 Premier League appearances that Van Gerwen has failed to reach the Play-Offs as he ended the season having not recorded a nightly victory since April 2024.

Where does the Premier League head next?

The Premier League concludes at the O2 arena, London on Thursday May 29 as table-topping Luke Littler takes on Nathan Aspinall and then Luke Humphries faces Gerwyn Price in the other semi-final. Watch Finals Night of Premier League Darts, in London, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Action from 7pm – stream with NOW.

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