Michael van Gerwen reckons he’s still the big gun Luke Littler fears the most – and claims The Nuke is lying if he says otherwise. Van Gerwen was destroyed 7-3 by Littler in the World Darts Championship final last January, when the boy king lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy aged just 17. And Littler leads 12-9 in the pair’s head-to-head record in all competitions since he joined the professional ranks two years ago.

But as the three-time word champion emerges from a year of personal trauma, and begins his 20th world title crusade at the age of 36 against Mitsuhiko Tatsunami at Alexandra Palace on Thursday night, Van Gerwen isn’t shy of calling the odds. On his rampage yielding 48 major PDC titles and seven-year reign as world No.1, MVG looked invincible and his rivals were often beaten by the time he stomped on stage to his Seven Nation Army anthem.

Asked if that remains the case, almost seven years since he last conquered Ally Pally, Van Gerwen replied: “Yes, of course. Ask Luke Littler who he doesn’t want to play.

“He will definitely say my name, 100 per cent. And if he doesn’t, he’s lying. That’s the way it is.”

It is also fair to say that, since his last world title, MVG has explored some very different ways to miss out on a fourth.

He had to dash back from Holland, after only two hours at home for Christmas, to beat the borders being sealed during the madness of Covid, only to be whitewashed 5-0 by Dave Chisnall in the quarter-finals.

The following year, he withdrew before his third round tie with Chris Dobey after testing positive for the virus after a Christmas meal with Dutch compatriots in London where practice partner Vincent van der Voort also pulled out but Dirk van Duijvenbode’s self-test was negative.

And, like his wipeout by Chisnall, nobody saw his quarter-final defeat by Scott Williams coming two years ago.

Van Gerwen’s fortunes have been fickle but he admitted: “I f***** up as well. Don’t worry, I have a lot of self-reflection. When you make a mistake, you have to look yourself in the mirror and also blame yourself.

“I’m the first one who’s telling myself off. But looking back doesn’t bring you anything.”

He is philosophical about his timid performance in the final where Littler raced into a 4-0 lead and never looked like being caught.

“When you’re hunted, it’s different from when you want to hunt someone. I know how it goes. I’ve been in that position myself. I did it to other people, now they did it to me.”

Off the oche, Van Gerwen has been through the pain of divorce after splitting up with his wife Daphne.

It has affected his performances but MVG believes he is ready to open a “new chapter” and a fourth world title would be his best achievement.

He said: “Everyone knows I have had a really tough year, but you need to adjust and try to find a new balance in your life.

“When I am home now, and the kids are there, I have to look after them. It’s not like I have a wife who helps you. That’s all new for me.

“If I won another world title, through the circumstances, that gives me more energy, shall I say it that way.”