Michael van Gerwen takes to the Alexandra Palace stage tonight as he begins his quest for a fourth World Darts Championship crown, facing Japan's Mitsuhiko Tatsunami in the first round.
The Dutchman has been refreshingly honest about the difficulties he's faced over the past twelve months.
"I have had a tough year, probably my worst year ever," Van Gerwen admitted ahead of his match.
The three-time champion's struggles stem largely from his separation from wife Daphne after more than a decade of marriage, a split that has clearly taken its toll both on and off the oche.
Michael van Gerwen has admitted to struggling this year
| XThe couple share two children together – Mike and Zoe – and Van Gerwen stepped away from competition earlier this year while adapting to his new circumstances.
He even missed the World Cup of Darts as he worked through the upheaval in his personal life.
"I used to have a wife who helped me with things, but now when I have the kids, I have to look after them. So I have to adjust myself a little bit," he explained.
"My kids are always priority number one."
Finding that balance hasn't been straightforward for the 35-year-old, who acknowledges he's entering a completely new phase of his life.
Michael van Gerwen is a three-time world champion | PAVan Gerwen currently sits third in the world rankings, trailing both Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, who many expect to contest the final on January 3rd.
But the Green Machine isn't losing any sleep over their recent dominance.
"I'm not jealous of anyone," he said firmly. "I have been there, I have done it."
Rather than feeling threatened, Van Gerwen actually relishes the challenge of chasing down the top two.
"Of course, it's always nice to chase someone, it is easier than being hunted," he added.
"I don't mind being talked about whereas they don't like the pressure. I had the pressure for the last 20 years."
It's been six years since Van Gerwen last lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy, and he's painfully aware of the gap.
Since that 2019 triumph, he's reached three more finals but fallen short each time – losing to Peter Wright, Michael Smith, and most recently Littler.
"We had coronavirus, we had a couple of other good dart players, a couple of mistakes by myself," he reflected on the barren spell.
Yet there was a reminder of his quality when he claimed the World Series Finals in Amsterdam, defeating Littler in the final.
"I know what I'm capable of and when I'm sharp, I can play. I can still get to that level."