Michael van Gerwen withdraws from Premier League darts due to illness
Michael van Gerwen has been forced to withdraw from this evening’s Premier League darts in Glasgow after falling ill, reports BritPanorama.
The Dutch star, who claimed victory on the opening night in Newcastle and subsequently reached the final during night two in Antwerp, will not feature at the OVO Hydro tonight. The Professional Darts Corporation confirmed the three-time world champion’s absence from the third night of the BetMGM Premier League.
Van Gerwen’s departure is a significant setback given his impressive performance at the start of the 2026 season, where he had been one of the standout players across the first two events. The PDC noted that while he had hoped to maintain his excellent early-season momentum, he has been ruled out of tonight’s competition due to a medical issue.
The nature of the illness has not been disclosed, although it was confirmed that it is sufficient to prevent the 36-year-old from taking to the stage. In his absence, Luke Littler stands to benefit considerably, as under tournament regulations, the teenage sensation automatically advances to the semi-finals without throwing a dart in the quarter-finals.
This progression awards Littler two league points along with a positive leg difference of one. The 19-year-old has managed just a single victory in this year’s Premier League thus far, making the free passage particularly welcome. Meanwhile, Van Gerwen faces a harsh penalty for his enforced absence, receiving zero league points and a negative leg difference of six, which could severely impact his standings in the competition table.
Tonight’s quarter-final schedule has been adjusted following Van Gerwen’s withdrawal, with three matches now set to take place, including contests between Stephen Bunting and Gian van Veen, as well as Luke Humphries against Josh Rock. The remaining quarter-final features Jonny Clayton facing Gerwyn Price, who triumphed over Van Gerwen in last week’s Antwerp final.
The semi-final draw will see the Bunting versus Van Veen winner face whoever emerges victorious from the Humphries and Rock encounter, while Littler will meet either Clayton or Price in his first competitive action of the evening. In darts, one man’s setback often becomes another’s opportunity, and tonight’s matches will certainly showcase that dynamic of the sport.
