Michael van Gerwen "The Green Machine" 
The Dutch destroyer better known as MVG — three-time World Champion, owner of the highest televised average in history, and for the best part of a decade, the most feared man on the oche.
Michael van Gerwen At A Glance
| Full Name | Michael van Gerwen |
| Date of Birth | 25 April 1989 (age 37) |
| Place of Birth | Boxtel, Netherlands |
| Home Town | Vlijmen, Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Nicknames | Mighty Mike · MVG · The Green Machine |
| Walk-On Song | "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes |
| PDC Ranking | World No. 4 (former World No. 1, 2014–2021) |
| Playing Since | 2002 (PDC from 2007) |
| Darts Used | 23g Winmau MvG Signature (EvoX Pro, 90% tungsten) |
| Favourite Double | Double 16 |
| Major Titles | World Championship (2014, 2017, 2019), 7× Premier League, 6× World Grand Prix, 3× World Matchplay, UK Open, Grand Slam & more |
| Career Prize Money | Over £11.8m |
| Net Worth (2026 est.) | Around £8m – £10m |
The Story of Michael van Gerwen
For the better part of a decade, if you wanted to win a darts tournament, you had to get past Michael van Gerwen first. And good luck with that. The bald-headed, green-shirted Dutchman didn't just beat people — he steamrollered them, often before they'd had time to find their rhythm.
Born on 25 April 1989 in Boxtel and raised in nearby Vlijmen, van Gerwen actually started out as a footballer, playing as a defender until he was 12. Then he picked up a set of darts at 13 and the football boots got binned soon after. The talent was instant and frightening. At 14 he reached the final of a youth Masters event, and by 17 he'd done something nobody had ever managed — he won the 2006 Winmau World Masters, snatching Eric Bristow's record as the youngest ever champion at 17 years and 174 days.
The famous fist-pump — van Gerwen's intensity and celebrations are all part of the Mighty Mike package.
The hype was off the charts. But darts is a cruel game, and the early breakthrough didn't translate straight away. Van Gerwen switched to the PDC in 2007 and then spent a few wilderness years struggling for consistency, even losing the PDC World Youth final in both 2011 and 2012. Ranked world number 38 at the start of 2012, plenty had written him off as a kid who peaked too soon.
Then the floodgates opened. In 2013 he won his first PDC major at the World Grand Prix and reached the World Championship final. In 2014, aged 24, he became the then-youngest PDC World Champion — and rocketed to world number one, a spot he'd own from 2014 right through to 2021. Three world titles followed (2014, 2017, 2019), a record seven Premier League crowns, six World Grand Prix titles, and a haul of 48 PDC major singles titles that sits second on the all-time list behind only Phil Taylor.
He owns the most absurd stat in the sport: a 123.40 televised average against Michael Smith in the 2016 Premier League — the highest ever recorded, and a game he very nearly turned into a whitewash, missing double 18 three times for what would have been an average north of 130.
Even now, ranked world number four and with the next generation snapping at his heels, MVG remains box office. When that "Seven Nation Army" riff kicks in and the crowd starts chanting his name, you know you're watching one of the all-time greats. The Michael van Gerwen darts story is far from over.
What Darts Does Michael van Gerwen Use?
This is the question every MVG fan wants answered. Michael van Gerwen throws 23g Winmau MvG signature darts — the EvoX Professional range, machined from 90% tungsten. After years of playing Winmau, the barrel has been fine-tuned over multiple generations to suit exactly how he plays: fast, front-loaded, and relentlessly heavy on the scoring.
The barrel carries a series of precision grip cuts that give van Gerwen instant, repeatable purchase without slowing his lightning release. He's one of the quickest throwers in the game, so the grip has to grab cleanly and let go cleanly — anything that snags would wreck his tempo. The 90% tungsten construction keeps the barrel slim for its weight, which means tighter grouping in a packed treble bed. That's how MVG darts have helped him pile in those famous purple patches.
The 23g weight is bang in the classic professional range — enough heft to drive through the wires, light enough to keep that signature quick-fire rhythm intact.
Michael van Gerwen's Full Gear Setup
Fancy throwing like Mighty Mike? Here's the complete van Gerwen darts setup — barrels, shafts, flights and the board he plays on. Every item below is the genuine Winmau MvG signature range.
Winmau MvG Signature Dart Shafts
The shafts that complete the MvG setup. Built to balance the EvoX barrels perfectly, they hold the flight at the right angle for a stable, predictable flight path. Tough, lightweight and finished in van Gerwen's signature styling — a small component that makes a big difference to consistency.
Winmau MvG Signature Dart Flights
The iconic green-and-black MvG flights. The shape is chosen to steady the dart in the air and keep van Gerwen's groupings tight, even at his blistering throwing speed. Durable, instantly recognisable, and the finishing touch on any proper Michael van Gerwen darts set.
Winmau MvG Signature Dart Wallet
Keep your arrows safe and tidy in MVG's own signature wallet. Holds your fully assembled darts plus spare flights, shafts and points, all zipped up in a slim case that survives being chucked in a bag. Branded in the unmistakable Green Machine colours.
Winmau MvG Signature Dart Board
Set up your oche like the pros with the MvG-branded Winmau bristle board. Winmau are the official dartboard partner of the PDC, so you're throwing at the same blade-wire technology used on the biggest stages — thin wiring, fewer bounce-outs and self-healing sisal that lasts. The board behind so many van Gerwen 180s.
Michael van Gerwen Merchandise
You can't talk about MVG without the green shirt. It's become so synonymous with him that he's literally nicknamed "The Green Machine". The official Pro-Line tour shirt is a cracking bit of kit for any fan — proper tournament apparel and a brilliant gift idea for the darts-mad among us.
Michael van Gerwen Career Highlights
2006 — Youngest World Masters Champion Ever
At 17 years and 174 days, van Gerwen wins the Winmau World Masters, breaking Eric Bristow's record as the youngest ever champion. The darting world takes notice.
2007 — Televised Nine-Darter
Hits a televised nine-dart finish at the Masters of Darts — an early glimpse of the perfection that would become his trademark.
2012 — First Major: World Grand Prix
After years finding his feet in the PDC, van Gerwen wins his maiden major at the World Grand Prix — the start of an avalanche.
2014 — World Champion & World No. 1
Lifts his first Sid Waddell trophy at age 24 and ascends to world number one — a position he'd hold for seven straight years.
2016 — The 123.40 Average
Records the highest televised three-dart average in history — a staggering 123.40 in a 7–1 demolition of Michael Smith at the Premier League.
2017 & 2019 — World Champion Again
Adds two more world titles to cement his place among the greats, alongside a record seven Premier League crowns and six World Grand Prix titles.
2026 — Second on the All-Time List
With 48 PDC major singles titles, a record 91 Pro Tour wins and over 160 PDC titles in total, MVG sits second on the all-time major list behind only Phil Taylor — and remains a genuine force at world number four.
Playing Style & Technique
Van Gerwen leans well forward over the oche and throws at a ferocious pace, scoring so heavily that he can build a winning lead in a matter of seconds. That's the essence of the Green Machine — momentum. He gets on top of opponents fast and rarely lets them breathe.
Michael van Gerwen in full flow — the unmistakable green shirt that earned him the nickname 'The Green Machine'.
His style is instinctive and natural rather than mechanical. When he does miss, he's brilliant at parking it and refocusing on the next leg — no sulking, no spiral. And then there are the "purple patches": those frightening spells where he instantly elevates his game to a level almost nobody can live with. Five-time World Champion Eric Bristow described him as fearless, and van Gerwen himself has said he's not scared of any player on the planet.
The celebrations are part of the package too — short, sharp fist-pumps and the odd headbutt to the air when an important visit lands. It's pure intensity, and it's exactly why crowds chant "Oh, Michael van Gerwen" to that Seven Nation Army riff.
The lesson from MVG's game is tempo and recovery — score fast, and never let a missed double drag into the next leg. If you want to build a smoother, more confident throw of your own, have a read of our complete guide on how to throw darts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What darts does Michael van Gerwen use?
Michael van Gerwen uses 23g Winmau MvG signature darts (the EvoX Professional range), made from 90% tungsten with a barrel profile tuned for his fast, heavy-scoring throw.
How old is Michael van Gerwen?
Michael van Gerwen was born on 25 April 1989 in Boxtel, the Netherlands, which makes him 37 years old as of 2026.
What is Michael van Gerwen's walk-on song?
MVG's walk-on song is "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes. Crowds chant "Oh, Michael van Gerwen" to the famous riff.
What is Michael van Gerwen's net worth?
Michael van Gerwen's net worth is estimated at around £8m – £10m, built on over £11.8m in career prize money plus long-running sponsorships with Winmau and others.
What is Michael van Gerwen's dart board?
As a Winmau player, van Gerwen uses a professional-standard Winmau Blade bristle dartboard. You can buy the same MvG-branded board to replicate his setup at home.
How many World Championships has Michael van Gerwen won?
Michael van Gerwen has won the PDC World Championship three times — in 2014, 2017 and 2019.
Why is Michael van Gerwen called The Green Machine?
The nickname comes from his iconic green shirt, which he's worn in competition for years. It's become so tied to his image that "The Green Machine" stuck. He's also known as MVG and Mighty Mike.
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