I've nothing left to prove, insists Michael van Gerwen

Michael van Gerwen claims he has nothing to prove as he looks to further cement himself as one of the darting greats at the World Championship.

The Dutchman is second on the all-time list of winners of the coveted title with three, behind only 14-time champion Phil Taylor.

Van Gerwen has been at the top of the game for some time and is widely regarded as the best player when he is on song, but his critics say he should have won more world titles that would really rubber-stamp his standing in the game.

But the 33-year-old, who has won four major titles in 2022, does not see it like that as he prepares for this year's tournament at Alexandra Palace, which begins on Thursday.

"Of course I want to add more, but as long as I keep winning tournaments, World Championships will follow," he told the PA news agency.

"That’s how it is, keep believing in yourself. People always say you have to do this or that, I have won four big tournaments this season so I am not complaining.

"I am doing fine. From this moment, there is only more to come.

"I don’t have to prove anything, what I did in darts in the last 10 or 15 years, everyone knows what I am capable of. I just want to do the thing I love the most and that is play as well as possible."

Van Gerwen, who has to wait until next Wednesday to begin his campaign, might have got his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy last year had he not been struck down by coronavirus and forced to withdraw.

He has regularly claimed that several of his competitors did not report their own positive tests, but is now looking forward.

"If you ask me now do I think I made the right decision, yes, of course," he said.

"If you have corona, you have to be taken out, I am one of the few ones who admitted he had corona, so I