Michael van Gerwen left furious after losing to Gary Anderson at World Darts Championship

"From the start of the match, I let myself down in key moments," Van Gerwen said. "You can look at someone else, but in this defeat, I'm the culprit."

The three-time world champion's failure to convert at crucial moments proved decisive, with missed doubles ultimately costing him any chance of claiming a fourth title.

Van Gerwen admitted he believed he could have lifted the trophy this year, insisting he felt in better shape than the previous campaign.

The defeat capped off a wretched 12 months for Van Gerwen, both on and away from the oche, following his divorce and a series of underwhelming performances throughout the year.

His quest for a fourth world crown, which he hoped might reignite his career, never got off the ground as the Scottish veteran dispatched him with relative ease.

The match encapsulated his inconsistent form perfectly – flashes of the brilliance that once made him unstoppable were interspersed with costly errors.

Van Gerwen squandered 20 doubles during what proved a fragile display, with Anderson left bewildered by his opponent's struggles.

"Michael missing all those doubles, I went: What the hell's going on here?" Anderson remarked.

Despite the crushing nature of his exit, Van Gerwen refused to wallow in self-pity following the loss.

"I can handle this defeat. I'm realistic. I let it slide," he stated. "I could go cry in a corner like a little child, but that won't help me."

The Dutchman acknowledged he had shortchanged himself when the contest remained within reach, believing the scoreline should have been level at two sets apiece.

"It should have been 2-2 in sets. I sold myself short," Van Gerwen explained.

"You might still lose if it's 2-2, but 4-1 really wasn't necessary."

He conceded that when you know your own capabilities, you must hold yourself accountable when things go wrong.

Van Gerwen now turns his attention to the year ahead, fully aware of its significance for his career.

"I know better than anyone that it's going to be a very important year. I'm not running away from that," he said.

The former world No 1 plans to head home for some much-needed rest before returning to competitive action in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Rankings hold no interest for him - only performances matter now.

"I'll be doing that with renewed energy, because I know what I'm capable of," Van Gerwen declared. "It hurts that I don't always show it, but I won't give up. Ever."

Anderson, who has known Van Gerwen since he was around 14, praised his opponent's remarkable career trajectory, recalling how he became unstoppable for over a decade after winning his first televised tournament at the Dublin Grand Prix.