Michael van Gerwen's iconic green jersey and trademark celebrations on the oche make him one of darts' most recognisable faces and he'll be hoping to upset the odds tonight in the World Darts Championship final.
The Dutchman reigned supreme in darts when he first burst onto the scene, winning three world titles and multiple majors.
But his era of dominance came to an end recently, coinciding with a number of medical issues that have hampered his career.
He underwent dental surgery in 2023 and revealed the operation left him in a lot of pain as the long road to recovery began.
Michael van Gerwen still has a while left wearing braces
GETTY
Van Gerwen had to wear braces shortly after the initial operation and it doesn't appear as though they're going to come off any time soon.
He underwent another operation last year and Van Gerwen opened up on what he was going to have done.
“I’ll have an operation in which they’re going to break my upper jaw and lower jaw. Put them right on each other," Van Gerwen said.
“Then it’s all about recovery. Two years more in a brace. Then I’m about finished.
“Between the first operation this year and the second one, there has to be a minimum of one year.
“It’s because my upper jaw is a lot smaller than my lower jaw. My underbite is over a centimetre.
“Even a slice of ham, I cannot even bite properly. And because my upper jaw is too small also you get less oxygen through your nose.
“That creates headaches. Less sleep. Things like that.
Michael van Gerwen faces Luke Littler in the World Darts Championship final tonight
PA
“You have to plan things, especially with my schedule. I can still eat. But only you bite wrongly. You don’t eat how you should eat.
“It’s the same as the year before with my Carpal tunnel syndrome. It had to happen. There are no other options. For me, it’s not really a big thing.
“Given what I have gone through, sometimes I do underestimate that. I think to myself: ‘Why am I so hard on myself all the time?’ But that’s the way I am.”
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Michael van Gerwen had his jaw broken
PA
It means Van Gerwen will unlikely have the braces off until 2026 and he's admitted previously that the treatment process has disrupted his performances.
But the three-time world champion could put some of that pain behind him this evening if he pips Littler to the trophy at the Alexandra Palace this evening.
