
This is going to be Michael 2.0 – Van Gerwen ‘excited' to return in New York
But he is ready to get back into action in an event he has won twice before.
'This is going to be a new Michael. Michael 2.0,' he said. 'I am really excited, everyone knows I have had very tough times, still going on, but I am dealing with it, living by the moment.
'I still love what I do. I play darts. We all need to understand one thing, there is only one thing I love more and that is my kids.
'I wouldn't be here if I wasn't here to win, I want to come here and put my head on something else, that is something that is really important.
The US Darts Masters is held at Madison Square Garden
'I also need to be realistic, I have never been in this situation, never had so many weeks of not playing competitive darts. My head says something else, my head says I have to smash it.'
Van Gerwen will be in a strong field that also includes Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price.
Humphries is yet to win this event but is desperate to add it to his collection.
'It's great to be back, it's such an iconic venue, I always look forward to this one most on the World Series,' the world number one said.
'This is the one all the players want to win, it is really special.
🇺🇸 The countdown is on! The @bet365 US Darts Masters returns to New York's @TheTheaterAtMSG.
🗽 Join us live in The Big Apple, June 27–28.
🎟️ Only a few tickets remain – grab yours now 👉 https://t.co/I9rMrqNNeZ pic.twitter.com/cmf6r0CdcB
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) June 21, 2025
'For me to put my name on that trophy would mean a lot to me, so it's something I'm desperate to do.
'Hopefully I can tick another thing off the CV that I have always wanted to win.'
Nathan Aspinall is also playing and hinted he has a better chance of winning without his wife and the distraction of the bright lights of New York.
'It's great to come to America, normally my wife has been with me, but I'm on my own so it's a bit different to previous years,' Aspinall said.
'I think I'm going to be a bit more focused on the tournament itself than previous years, which hopefully means I can go and win it.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Venezuelan teenagers denied US visas for Senior Baseball World Series
A Venezuelan baseball team was denied visas into the United States and will miss this year's Senior Baseball World Series, Little League International confirmed Friday. The Cacique Mara team, from Maracaibo, Venezuela, was scheduled to participate in the tournament after winning the Latin American championship in Mexico. 'The Cacique Mara Little League team from Venezuela was unfortunately unable to obtain the appropriate visas to travel to the Senior League Baseball World Series,' Little League International said in a statement, adding that it is 'extremely disappointing, especially to these young athletes'. The Venezuelan team traveled to Colombia two weeks ago to apply for their visas at the US embassy in Bogotá. The embassy did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment. 'It is a mockery on the part of Little League to keep us here in Bogotá with the hope that our children can fulfill their dreams of participating in a world championship,' the team said in a statement. 'What do we do with so much injustice, what do we do with the pain that was caused to our children?' Venezuela is among a list of countries with restrictions for entering the US or its territories. US president Donald Trump has banned travel to the United States from 12 other countries, citing national security concerns. Earlier in the month, the Cuban women's volleyball team was denied visas to participate in a tournament in Puerto Rico. 'They told us that Venezuela is on a list because Trump says Venezuelans are a threat to the security of his state, of his country,' said Kendrick Gutiérrez, the league's president in Venezuela. 'It hasn't been easy the situation; we earned the right to represent Latin America in the World Championship.' The Senior League Baseball World Series, a tournament for players aged 13-16, is played each year in Easley, South Carolina. It begins Saturday. The tournament organizers replaced the Venezuelans with the Santa Maria de Aguayo team from Tamaulipas, Mexico, the team that was a runner-up in the Latin American championship. 'I think this is the first time this has happened, but it shouldn't end this way. They're going to replace us with another team because relations have been severed; it's not fair,' Gutiérrez added. 'I don't understand why they put Mexico in at the last minute and left Venezuela out.'


Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Telegraph
England vs Spain predictions: Women's Euro 2025 final tips and odds
Our expert has three tips for the Women's Euro 2025 final on Sunday between England and Spain at St Jakob-Park in Basel (kick-off, 5pm BST). We think the Lionesses could fall short against the world champions. England vs Spain tips Spain to win @ 3/4 with bet365 Claudia Pina to score or assist @ 11/10 with bet365 Lucy Bronze to be carded @ 8/1 with bet365 Odds courtesy of bet365 Correct at the time of publication and subject to change. Already a bet365 member? Check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. Match details World champions look too strong Sunday's battle in Basel between England and Spain is a repeat of the 2023 Women's World Cup final – and it could also produce a repeat of the result. Olga Carmona's first-half strike two years ago in Sydney gave Spain a 1-0 win and their first Women's World Cup triumph and they are understandably favourites at 2/5 to become European champions for the first time. After sweeping aside Portugal, Belgium and Italy by an aggregate scoreline of 14-3 in the group stage, Spain have handled the occasion of tighter games with Switzerland and Germany well. Extra time was required to see off the Germans, who were happy to play physical and scrappy football to disrupt the flow of Spain's midfield machine, but England are not as well suited to operating in that way. There have been glaring issues throughout this tournament for the Lionesses, who struggled to handle the pace of France and Sweden's forwards, losing 2-1 to the former and requiring penalties to beat the latter after trailing 2-0 until the 79th minute. As recently as last month, Spain beat England 2-1 in the Women's Nations League. Their midfield has become even more polished under Montse Tome and they have attacking quality in abundance, managing 120 shots and scoring 17 goals in five games at this tournament. England, reliant on super-subs at Euro 2025, could well take La Roja to extra time but the 3/4 on offer for a Spain win in normal time is worth taking. Pina ready to strike Barcelona winger Claudia Pina has been one of the standout players at Euro 2025 and looks a good pick at 11/10 to score or assist. No player has had more shots on target at this tournament than Pina (10), who has two goals and two assists to her name. Pina also bagged both goals against England in the Women's Nations League last month and should cause problems for a leaky Lionesses rearguard. Bronze could have her hands full Few players wear their heart on their sleeve more than England right-back Lucy Bronze and it is surprising she has not been cautioned during her team's chaotic run to the final of Euro 2025. That is made more surprising by the fact she has committed 11 fouls in the competition, more than any other player except Germany's Elisa Senß (13). And while she is clearly adept at not getting carded, the 8/1 on offer for her to be booked in a final that is likely to be tense and high-octane looks pretty big. Bronze may not be able to get forward as much as she wants in this game as she will be up against a frightening Spanish left side featuring Pina, star midfielder Alexia Putellas and full-back Carmona. Carmona loves to get forward and create overlapping runs, while Putellas (seven) has been fouled more times than any other Spain player at the tournament, so Bronze may be drawn into making a few cynical challenges. England vs Spain odds All odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.


Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies makes Max Verstappen admission amid Mercedes switch threat
Max Verstappen has been even more heavily linked with a move from Red Bull to F1 rivals Mercedes since long-serving team boss Christian Horner was replaced by Laurent Mekies Laurent Mekies has admitted his highest priority as new Red Bull boss is making sure Max Verstappen stays. The Frenchman is only the second team principal in Red Bull's entire Formula 1 history after replacing the ousted Christian Horner, who spent 20 years in charge. And he inherits the role at a time when star driver Verstappen is considering quitting for rivals Mercedes. The Dutchman's streak of title successes is all-but certain to end this year and he wants to be in the quickest car he can find in 2026. Mekies knows his single most important job in the short term is to make sure the four-time F1 champion doesn't think the grass will be greener elsewhere. "I'm sure Max wants a fast car and if we get him a fast car, I'm sure it's cancelling out all the other considerations," he said in his first press conference as Red Bull boss at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday. "So really the focus is very much to try to get to know the team as quickly as possible in order to see how we can support, how we can build the next step of competitiveness in order to get a fast car and hence to make it an easy call for Max." Article continues below Verstappen's decision has also left George Russell sweating over his Mercedes future. The Brit is leading the charge for the Silver Arrows on track and has enjoyed an excellent season so far, but is out of contract at the end of this year. So is rookie team-mate Kimi Antonelli, but Mercedes have high hopes for the teenager and so Russell is the one most likely to be axed if they manage to lure Verstappen. The 27-year-old said on Thursday that it is "unlikely" he will get a contract extension before the summer break. Team boss Toto Wolff, however, said in Belgium yesterday that the "largest of probabilities" is that Mercedes' driver pairing will remain unchanged for 2026. "Nothing is 100 percent, [but] this is going to be the line-up for next year," he said. Russell's situation is made all the more strange by the face Mercedes also serve as his management team. That should have made negotiations a breeze, but Wolff hinted that Russell has been demanding more than he has been willing to sign off on up to now. The Austrian said: "[The media] make a lot of pressure, because it's an interesting topic. But it's completely normal that we have these negotiations and discussions. Every driver wants a better car and more money, that's completely normal behaviour and that's not going to be the crucial point. "He's now triggered the whole media avalanche. It's maybe naïve, but I try to be transparent with the drivers and I said to him, 'Listen, I have the obligation of exploring what Max is going to do in the next few years'. I think he just came out with it to show, 'I'm aware of what's going on, there's nothing going on behind my back and I'm fine with it'."