DESPITE being labelled as the best player in darts at the moment by the legendary Eric Bristow, Michael van Gerwen insists that he can still improve!
The Dutch star has risen to number two in the PDC Order of Merit, behind Phil Taylor, after winning the World Grand Prix and reaching the finals of the Grand Slam of Darts and World Championship in the past six months.
He has also enjoyed extraordinary success in the PDC's non-televised events during that period, and sits at the top of the Premier League Darts table following ten weeks of his debut season.
He followed up his Premier League win over Taylor in Sheffield with another triumph against the World Champion on Saturday in the Speedy Services UK Open Qualifiers in Wigan, before going on to take victory in Sunday's event.
Five-time World Champion Eric Bristow, writing in his Daily Mirror column, said: "Ever since Phil Taylor first emerged onto the scene, I have resisted the temptation to bump-up any other young, promising player to the sale level of expectation.
"With Michael van Gerwen, however, I feel I can make an exception. I love this kid, I really do.
"He's the best player in the world at the moment."
Van Gerwen will play twice as the McCoy's Premier League Darts visits Dublin on Thursday, and despite Bristow's praise the 23-year-old insists he can continue improving.
"I'm doing very well and I'm proud of myself - but I can still do better than this," states van Gerwen, who initially emerged as a teenage prodigy in Holland in 2004.
"I'm top of the table now and I want to keep my place there. I'm really happy with how I'm playing and I'm very confident at the moment.
"Last week was a difficult night for me but I walked away with four points against Phil Taylor and James Wade, and it would be great to do it again in Dublin.
"If you're doing well, you like playing and that's important. I'm enjoying the game."
Van Gerwen will play Dutch rival van Barneveld in Dublin in front of over 9,000 fans at The O2 on Thursday before returning to the stage later in the evening to face Lewis - one of only two players to defeat him so far this season.
"It's two big games for me in a great venue," said van Gerwen. "I'm going to enjoy it because everyone's telling me it's the best venue in the Premier League along with The O2 in London where we play the Play-Offs.
"I like to play Raymond, and I think it's a game that everyone else likes to see at the moment too because we've had some great matches in the Grand Slam final and at the Premier League earlier this year.
"I'm looking forward to playing Adrian too because he beat me earlier this season, so it would be nice."
The McCoy's Premier League Darts will be live on Sky Sports HD1 from 7pm, as well as through RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, OSN across the Middle East, Fox Sports in Australia and online through LIVEPDC.TV.
McCoy's Premier League Darts
Week 11
April 18 – The O2, Dublin
Andy Hamilton v Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld v Michael van Gerwen
Robert Thornton v James Wade
Simon Whitlock v Andy Hamilton
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
Michael van Gerwen v Adrian Lewis
Coral Match Odds – Week 11
Andy Hamilton v Phil Taylor
10/3 – Andy Hamilton
4/1 – Draw
8/15 – Phil Taylor
Raymond van Barneveld v Michael van Gerwen
2/1 – Raymond van Barneveld
4/1 - Draw
5/6 – Michael van Gerwen
Robert Thornton v James Wade
7/4 – Robert Thornton
7/2 - Draw
EVS – James Wade
Simon Whitlock v Andy Hamilton
11/10 – Simon Whitlock
7/2 - Draw
8/5 – Andy Hamilton
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
11/5 – Raymond van Barneveld
7/2 - Draw
5/6 –Phil Taylor
Michael van Gerwen v Adrian Lewis
8/15 – Michael van Gerwen
4/1 – Draw
10/3 – Adrian Lewis
All odds correct at 12pm on April 16 and courtesy of www.coral.co.uk.
Coral are the Official Betting Partner of McCoy's Premier League Darts.