- Van Gerwen began dating Daphne in 2008 with the couple then marrying in 2014
- The darts star confirmed their split in a statement published on social media
- Van Gerwen confirmed he is withdrawing from tournaments amid the split
Three-time Michael van Gerwen has announced he is splitting with his wife Daphne and will take a break from tournaments.
The darts legend shared the update with fans on social media, admitting he and Daphne are facing a ‘difficult time’.
‘It is with great sadness that I inform you that Daphne and I have decided to end our relationship,’ Van Gerwen wrote.
‘As a result, I have withdrawn from the upcoming tournaments.
‘I am sorry to disappoint my fans, but I trust that they will understand my decision.
‘We are facing a difficult time and ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.’
Michael van Gerwen has announced he is splitting with his wife Daphne after 17 years
Van Gerwen and Daphne Govers began dating in 2008, before getting married in 2014
Daphne, pictured showing her support for Van Gerwen at a tournament
Van Gerwen and Daphne Govers began dating in 2008, with the couple getting married back in 2014.
They have two children together, a daughter Zoe, 7, and son Mike, 5.
Three-time world champion Van Gerwen made the announcement as he pulled out of the Dutch Darts Championship.
The 36-year-old had been due to play his first match of the home event on Saturday evening.
Confirmation of the split comes just days after Van Gerwen failed to qualify for the play-offs of this season’s Premier League Darts.
Van Gerwen, a seven-time winner of the Premier League, finished fifth in the standings with only the top four advancing.
The darts legend had needed a night win on Thursday to secure a top four finish, but was beaten in the quarter-finals by Nathan Aspinall.
Following the match, Aspinall admitted there had been ‘a lot of emotion’ and claimed Van Gerwen ‘didn’t look himself’.
Van Gerwen made the announcement as he pulled out of the Dutch Darts Championship
‘It is with great sadness that I inform you that Daphne and I have decided to end our relationship,’ Van Gerwen wrote on social media
The couple have two children together, a daughter Zoe, 7, and son Mike, 5.
Van Gerwen missed out on a place in the Premier League Darts playoffs earlier this week
Nathan Aspinall, who beat Van Gerwen in Sheffield, claimed the star ‘didn’t look himself’
Aspinall suggested Van Gerwen looked like he was ‘giving up’ during their match on Thursday
‘There was a lot of emotion after walking off stage, I had to take myself away,’ Aspinall told Sky Sports.
‘I spoke so highly of Michael all week and go and win tonight.
‘I don’t know what is going on but he didn’t look himself again.
‘Even on that stage, he was giving up.’
