Has Michael van Gerwen lost the hunger? Does James Wade take his Premier League spot for 2027?

Van Gerwen has only been beyond his opening appearance once in his last five tournaments when he lost to Scott Williams in the quarter-finals of Players Championship 30.

Besides that, he suffered an opening-round exit to Ryan Joyce at the World Grand Prix, lost to Daryl Gurney at the World Series of Darts Finals, lost to Benjamin Pratnemer in Players Championship 29, and against Damon Heta in the Flanders Darts Trophy.

Speaking on his own stream, Van Gerwen said he was "annoyed" at his recent Grand Prix result that he believes he should have won.

However, speaking on the Love the Darts podcast, Colin Lloyd admitted he was worried that the Dutchman no longer had the "fire" and if he took a break, he may not return.

"It was a free hit. I don't want to say he wasn't ready for it, but he didn't look comfortable," Lloyd said.

"There has been some odd results throughout the last six to eight months where you think everything seems to be going well.

"Michael has had a lot going on in his private life. He loves spending time with his kids and whatever. Perhaps just that little bit of hunger's gone. That little bit of hunger's gone.

"There's no question that Michael's still a class player but it is just a case of - when you start losing that little bit of hunger and you lose that little bit of fire in you.

"I don't personally believe that if Michael van Gerwen steps away, you won't see Michael van Gerwen come back.

"He won't come back because financially he's set. He can spend so much more time with the kids and he can put in the odd exhibitions here and there, the odd appearances here and there.

"He has been doing it since he was 17. He won the World Masters at 17 years old, which is 20 years ago or whatever it is.

"People will say he is still young enough but he has got battle scars. He has got battle scars from that 17-year-old kid all the way up to now.

"At some point or another, mentally and physically, you think to yourself, do I really need to go through this anymore?"

It is almost an opposite story for James Wade who has been hitting heights of old over the past year or so.

He reached the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix for the first time since 2014, picked up his first World Series title at the Australian Darts Masters in August, and won the Flanders Darts Trophy in September which marked his first Euro Tour title in a decade.

Not only that, he has won 14 of his last 16 matches as he continues to show true consistency.

That is why, for Matt Edgar, Wade is an almost certainty for the Premier League in 2027. Indeed, a dead cert if there is an increase to 10 players from eight.

"I was going to say Premier League, but it seems every time I mention it in the moment people want say it is too early," Edgar said on the Love the Darts podcast.

"I was kind of surprised he wasn't in it this year or at least in the conversation because it was sort of Stephen Bunting and Danny Noppert wasn't in that split decision for the eighth position.

"I was surprised James Wade wasn't in the consideration then. He has to be, he has to be now.

"There are rumours about the potential growth to 10 players. If that is the case, I think he is a certainty. I think it's a tough argument right now to say he's not.

"We know the short term and the recency bias kicks in. If he has a poor World Championship, if the back end of the year doesn't go well, people can forget what happens through the rest of the season very quickly."

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