Michael van Gerwen was punched in the face by a stranger during a bar incident in the Netherlands on Monday.
Footage shared online shows Van Gerwen speaking with a man and a woman in a bar in Den Bosch during King's Day before the man suddenly strikes him. Security quickly intervened, pulling the attacker away as Van Gerwen briefly gave chase.
The former world number one later said the individual “clearly had too much to drink” and that the aggression appeared to come without warning. He added that the attacker has since apologised via Instagram.
Van Gerwen, 37, has chosen not to press charges and admitted his reaction—pursuing the man—was instinctive in the moment.
The incident came just days before his return to Premier League Darts action in Aberdeen, where he was beaten 6–3 by Luke Humphries in the quarter-finals.
One of the sport’s most decorated players, Van Gerwen held the world number one ranking from 2014 to 2021 and has won 48 major singles titles, placing him second on the PDC’s all-time list behind Phil Taylor.
