Michael van Gerwen, the current leader of the Premier League Darts, may miss Thursday night’s blockbuster quarter-final in Glasgow due to a medical issue. The Dutchman, who has dominated the opening nights of the 2026 season, is awaiting test results that will determine whether he can travel to the OVO Hydro to face world champion Luke Littler.
A statement from the Professional Darts Corporation confirmed: “Michael has a medical issue and is awaiting results of tests which will determine whether he can travel to Glasgow.”
Van Gerwen’s close friend Vincent van der Voort revealed that the three-time world champion has “picked something up” and is currently on antibiotics. This comes just a year after Van Gerwen missed the Berlin Premier League round due to a shoulder injury.
“Unfortunately, we still don’t know for sure if Michael will play”, van der Voort said on a podcast.
“He’s picked up something and is on antibiotics. I can’t say yet th at he’ll be there. We’ll have to wait and see over the coming days.
“Tests are being done, and I hope they find it quickly so it can be resolved. There’s a chance he won’t be there.
“Everything is uncertain for now. Every time you think it’s turning the right way, something happens again.”
If Michael van Gerwen is forced to withdraw, Luke Littler will receive a bye into the semi-finals, where he would meet either Jonny Clayton or Gerwyn Price.
The 2026 season has started strongly for Van Gerwen, who won the opening night and finished runner-up in Antwerp last week after a 6–3 defeat to Price. He also recently claimed the Bahrain Masters crown and reached a semi-final on the ProTour, showcasing the form that has kept him at the top of the Premier League table.
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Josh Rock Blames Soap for Antwerp Defeat
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock blamed his own 6–2 defeat to Van Gerwen in Antwerp on the soap he used before taking to the stage. The 24-year-old admitted he struggled to grip the darts properly and has since started bringing his own chalk and wax to future events to prevent a repeat of the mishap.
The darts world now waits for Van Gerwen’s medical results, which will decide whether Thursday’s Glasgow showdown goes ahead as planned or Littler advances automatically to the semi-finals.
