Michael van Gerwen won’t be wearing his iconic green shirt this weekend (Image: Getty)
They’ll be a noticeable omission from the darts World Masters in Milton Keynes this weekend.
The world’s best players will descend on the Marshall Arena for the first major of 2025, with the tournament having undergone a major shake-up.
For the first time, the prize money earned at the World Masters will count towards the Order of Merit, with a total purse of £500,000 on offer.
Reigning champion will return to defend the title he won last year, while is set to compete in his first major since turning 18 last week.
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But for eagle-eyed darts fans, they’ll spot a key absentee from the event… iconic green shirt.
The Dutch arrowsmith’s lime green get-up is almost as iconic as Van Gerwen himself, with the World Championship runner-up having donned the colour ever since he burst onto the professional scene as a teenager.
But the not-so-Green Machine is set to make a change for this weekend’s Masters, as he celebrates his five-year anniversary with darts manufacturer Winmau.
Instead of his usual outfit, Van Gerwen will wear a black and gold shirt for the event as a nod to the tournament’s sponsor.
On the decision to ditch the green, he said: “Not in green? No, not this tournament. For the five-year anniversary, I will play in this shirt: black with gold. Perfect.”
That isn’t the only change for Van Gerwen this weekend though, as the three-time world champion is set to debut his new signature darts, which have seen an increase in weight.
He continued: “I told the technical guy: you know what I like to play with and what I’m comfortable with, so give me good darts. I gave him free rein.
“The biggest difference is that they are 0.7 grams heavier and the grip has been adjusted. It has to feel good and they feel good from the first moment.”
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After suffering defeat in the World Championship final against Littler, Van Gerwen will be keen to leave his mark during the first major of 2025.
He’s been paired against qualifier Bradley Brooks for his first-round match, with either Gary Anderson or Dimitri Van den Bergh to face the victor in round two.
Should the pair win all of their matches, Van Gerwen and Littler could meet at the semi-final stage, while Luke Humphries, Rob Cross and Bunting are the top seeds on the opposite side of the draw.