THERE'S SOMETHING FAWLTY ABOUT MVG'S YEAR

Clog Almighty has yet to win a trophy this season ..but believes he's still the man to beat at Ally Pally

- MIKE WALTERS

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

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 Littler Humphries and take over as the men to beat, Clog Almighty warned that he is not finished yet.

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

Since winning the last of his three world 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 some extremely different ways.

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