Chris Mason believes that posting a high average could help Michael van Gerwen kick out of his recent title drought on the PDC circuit.

The world number one has picked up nine titles so far in 2019, including the PDC World Championship, the Masters and the Premier League.

Van Gerwen made a blistering start to the calendar year, winning eight out of 12 tournaments, but since winning his ninth, the Premier League, back in May, he has gone without adding to his tally in the next six events.

To find the last time the Dutchman went half a dozen tournaments without getting his hands on the trophy, you have to go as far back as a October 2015.

Listen to co-hosts Alex Moss and Burton DeWitt preview the World Series triple header Down Under on this week’s Weekly Dartscast podcast, and also hear from special guests Des Jacklin, Brendan Dolan and Chris Mason via the player below!

Van Gerwen faces New Zealand’s Ben Robb in the opening round of the Brisbane Darts Masters, which gets under way Down Under later this morning. If he misses out on silverware again this week, it will be the first time MVG has gone seven trophy-less tournaments since May 2014.

“We’ve seen it with Michael this year, when you’re playing your best darts, taking shots out is as infectious as going on a run of bad results,” Mason told the Weekly Dartscast.

“Both are equally hard to get out of. When you’re missing you get stuck in this grind. That’s where Michael is right now.

“He wants to go up there and smash in a 110 average and he’ll kick on again.”

Michael van Gerwen’s last six tournaments
World Matchplay – Last 16
German Darts Masters – Last 16
US Darts Masters – Quarter-Finals
Czech Darts Open – Last 32
World Cup of Darts – Semi-Finals
Dutch Darts Masters – Final

The last time Michael van Gerwen went six tournaments without winning one (September – October 2015)
European Darts Grand Prix – Last 32
World Grand Prix – Final
Players Championship 18 – Last 16
Players Championship 17 – Quarter-Finals
Players Championship 16 – Last 32
Players Championship 15 – Quarter-Finals

Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC