EXCLUSIVE:
LONDON — The world of professional darts has been plunged into unprecedented chaos following the seismic personal collapse of its most electrifying star, Michael van Gerwen. In a devastating double-blow, the three-time World Champion faces not only the very public implosion of his marriage but the total loss of his multi-million-pound darts fortune, following his wife’s filing for divorce citing an alleged affair with a SkySports reporter.
Darting icon Michael van Gerwen, whose ruthless dominance and flamboyant persona have defined the sport for a decade, now faces a personal and financial wipeout of staggering proportions. His wife, Daphne van Gerwen-Gijsbers, the woman famously by his side since before his rise to superstardom, has formally announced their separation and initiated divorce proceedings. The cited reason, confirmed by her representatives to The Daily Gazette, is “irreconcilable differences arising from Michael’s infidelity.”
The alleged infidelity centres on a purportedly months-long liaison with a member of the SkySports darts broadcasting team. While the reporter in question has not been officially named, the news has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit darts media community, forcing SkySports to issue a terse statement acknowledging they are “conducting an internal review into the matter.”
However, the true atomic element in this personal meltdown is financial. Sources close to the couple confirm that a prenuptial agreement, signed in 2014 prior to their lavish Dutch wedding, contains a specific “infidelity clause.” This clause, unusually stringent, reportedly stipulates that in the event the marriage ends due to van Gerwen’s adultery, the entirety of the marital assets—including all earnings, endorsements, property, and investments accrued during their union—would be forfeited to Daphne.
This means an estimated fortune of £15-20 million, built from his countless tournament wins, his lucrative Unicorn Darts sponsorship, and various business ventures, could vanish from his control. This includes their multi-million-pound Essex mansion, a portfolio of properties in the Netherlands, and the bulk of his career winnings. Legal experts suggest van Gerwen may retain only assets held prior to the 2014 marriage, a fraction of his current wealth.
“Daphne is shattered, but she is resolved,” a close friend stated. “She stood by him when he was a promising kid with no money. She managed his life, his schedule, built their home. That prenup was her protection, and she will enforce it. For her, this is about fundamental betrayal, not just money.”
The professional ramifications are immediate and severe. Van Gerwen, known for his almost psychotic focus and “Green Machine” mentality, has withdrawn from this weekend’s Premier League Darts event in Leeds, citing “personal reasons.” The PDC, the sport’s governing body, faces a PR nightmare, with its most marketable star now engulfed in scandal. Sponsors are in emergency meetings, with Unicorn Darts reportedly “deeply concerned” about the association.
Fellow players have expressed a mixture of shock and sympathy, though the atmosphere backstage is described as “toxic” with speculation. “It’s all anyone can talk about,” one top-20 player admitted anonymously. “MvG is a giant, a competitor like no other. But this… this is a different kind of blow. Your head has to be gone. How do you focus on a double top when your entire life is being dismantled?”
The scandal threatens to overshadow the sport itself, with fans divided. Online forums are ablaze, with some expressing sympathy for Daphne and condemning van Gerwen’s alleged actions, while others worry for the future of the sport’s biggest draw. The narrative of the happy, stable family man that underpinned much of van Gerwen’s popular appeal lies in tatters.
For Michael van Gerwen, 34, the path forward is fraught. He faces a gruelling legal battle where his own signature on the prenuptial agreement leaves him with little room to manoeuvre. He must also navigate a return to the oche under a global spotlight of scorn and scrutiny, all while his financial empire transfers to the woman he is accused of betraying.
This is more than a tabloid scandal; it is a precipitous fall from grace for a sporting titan. The man who controlled dartboards with merciless precision has lost control of his own destiny. The “Green Machine” has not just been beaten; it has been utterly bankrupted, leaving the future of darts’ most volatile genius in a state of total, and arguably self-inflicted, chaos.
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