Darts icon Michael Van Gerwen believes he will have a target on his back prior to the World Championships. Next month fans will descend upon Alexandra Palace for the 2023 edition of the event, which the Dutchman has won three times in the past.
The 33-year-old enters the tournament in a rich vein of form, having won the Players Championship Finals title for the seventh time in 10 years on Sunday, beating Rob Cross. That marked his fifth televised title of the year and the world number three has his sights set on becoming the champion of the world once again, but knows it will be difficult. "Yeah [I'm the favourite], I would go into the tournament as favourite anyway even without the wins,” van Gerwen said.
"People always want to beat me, I know that. I have a big target on my back, but I can handle it. I've been under pressure so many times, and most of the time, I've survived. As long as you keep working, keep digging, then everything works out."
