Michael van Gerwen labels darts rival ‘part timer’ as he ramps up mind games ahead of European Championship showdown

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN labelled rival Gary Anderson a “part-timer” up of different blockbuster clash.

The three-time World Champion faces The Flying Scotsman successful the European Championship 2nd circular successful Dortmund connected Saturday.

It’s been 1 of the large rivalries successful the athletics implicit the past decennary including a fierce 2017 World Final won by the Dutchman.

MVG, 35, said: “Gary is ever going to beryllium a blockbuster. Whether you person a bully oregon atrocious game, it’s ever going to beryllium a tense game.

“We don’t privation to suffer to each other. We cognize each different truly well.

“I’m feeling comfortable. I consciousness good. I cognize I tin wounded him connected the close moments.

“We each cognize Gary Anderson, 1 of the champion players I person ever saw successful my life.

"But helium is besides a part-timer. So I request to marque definite I’m going to bash the close happening and stake connected my ain game.”

Van Gerwen besides believes that his enjoyment for the crippled is cardinal to his continued success.

He added: “I deliberation Luke Humphries has had a fantastic 12/13 months truthful far.

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“I’m already doing this for 17/18 years. Sometimes astatine constituent it could get a small spot similar a robot.

“But present I truly person the joyousness again. That’s what you request to person if you privation to bash well.”

Last year, MVG revealed that Anderson, 53, is known arsenic the "part timer" among his nonrecreational competitors.

He told Online Darts past October: "In the signifier country we telephone him ‘the part-timer’ helium does immoderate helium wants.

"That’s besides his right, he’s been connected the circuit for truthful long, what bash you expect?"