MVG POWERS AIN'T FAWLTY

GREEN machine Michael van Gerwen used to intimidate his opponents into submission but it's the end of an aura.

- MIKE WALTERS

Over the last five years MVG has gone from snarling top dog to one of the chasing pack and he makes no bones about it: He hates being left behind.

But after watching the Lukes of Hazard Humphries and Littler take over as the men to beat, Clog Almighty has warned he isn't finished yet.

And at the Paddy Power PDC World Championship, which opens at Alexandra Palace on Sunday night, he said: "I'm still the one they are pleased to see getting knocked out, I am the one they enjoy beating the most."

Since winning the last of his three titles in 2019, van Gerwen has confected five variations of Ally Pally disappointment - like Basil Fawlty's duck on gourmet night, his exits were done in extremely different ways.

• A surprise 7-3 defeat by Peter Wright in the final.