PDC World Darts Championship 2025: Van Gerwen Dismisses Littler's Chances of Breaking Taylor's Record

Michael van Gerwen cruised into the third round at Alexandra Palace, dispatching debutant James Hurrell with a commanding 3-0 victory in sets. 

The three-time world champion showed his class, but his frustration with Hurrell’s slow pace of play was evident throughout the match. Known for his preference for a fast tempo, Van Gerwen didn’t let the delay derail his performance.

Phil Taylor’s Record

After the match, Van Gerwen addressed his ambitions and the growing chatter around breaking Phil Taylor’s incredible record of 16 world titles—a feat many consider untouchable. 

With rising stars like teenage prodigy Luke Littler and reigning world champion Luke Humphries dominating the sport, Van Gerwen was quick to dismiss the notion of anyone surpassing Taylor’s legacy.

“Don’t talk about the potential of breaking Phil’s [Taylor] records, there no chance!” Van Gerwen told SportsBoom.com. 

Still Time for MVG?

At 35 years old, Van Gerwen still has plenty of time to chase the record himself, given that Taylor secured his last world championship at the age of 52 in 2013. When asked about the possibility, Van Gerwen gave a cheeky smile and teased the idea.

“Could you imagine, you never know,” he said.

While he acknowledges that Taylor’s record is a monumental challenge, Van Gerwen expressed his enduring passion for the game, hinting that he could still achieve remarkable feats if he continues to enjoy competing.

“But I still love what I do and as long as I keep loving what I do, then we're going to see,” he explained.

No Early Retirement!

Van Gerwen also reflected on what life might look like without darts, pondering the difficulty of stepping away from the sport that has defined his career.

“What else am I going to do? That's always the question I ask myself. What else am I going to do? I don't have enough other things or hobbies to fill in all that time. Of course, my kids and those really important in my life. But darts is a really big part of my life, and everyone knows that.”

New Deal Announcement

To put any speculation about a possible retirement to rest, Van Gerwen revealed a major commitment to the sport—his new 10-year deal with darts manufacturer Winmau.

“I just resigned with Winmau for the next 10 years. So definitely not going to stop before that,” he confirmed.

With his focus sharp and his love for the sport unwavering, Van Gerwen is far from ready to step away from the oche, and his latest performance proves he’s still a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.