Vincent van der Voort has questioned where Michael van Gerwen’s swagger on the oche has gone in a damning assessment.A three-time world champion, success has deserted Van Gerwen in the last two-and-a-half years as he has not won a single PDC ranked televised event.‘Mighty Mike’ has not looked his usual self in recent monthsGettyVan Gerwen also recently spent time away from the board following the news he had separated from wife Daphne in May.The Dutchman has since returned to the oche and is gearing up for this year’s World Matchplay, an event he has won three times before.But Van der Voort believes it will take something special for ‘Mighty Mike’ to secure his fourth title in Blackpool, especially since the latter is no longer the intimidating presence he once was.“He used to be full of energy – bouncing around like a rubber ball,” Van der Voort said, per Oche 180.“Now it’s completely different. I can tell the moment he walks on stage: if it’s a slow, lifeless entrance without any presence, I already know what kind of game it’s going to be.“Especially lately, he’s looked like a shadow of himself – like a dead man walking.”Van Gerwen arrives in Blackpool amid patchy form having failed to progress beyond the quarter-final at the last two World Series tournaments in America and Poland. They were performances branded as ‘pretty poor’ by Van der Voort and it prompted a heart-to-heart chat between the pair.“We decided that, at that moment, training and rest were more important than squeezing in another event,” Van der Voort said.“He’s done a lot of practice, that’s for sure. I think it was the better choice.The 36-year-old is in the midst of an alarming trophy droughtPA“He’s learned not to pull out too early anymore – that’s bitten him a few times this year.“And as for a fine? He really couldn’t care less.”Van Gerwen will begin his World Matchplay campaign with a tasty first round clash against fellow countryman and five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld on Monday.It will be the first time since January 2024 the two Dutch icons have played one another, which coincidentally was at the Dutch Darts Masters.Van Gerwen prevailed 6-5 in that clash, which marked his eighth win over his rival since March 2019. However, Van Barneveld goes into the contest having previously beat ‘Mighty Mike’ in Blackpool by a dominant 10-3 margin back in 2009.GettyVan Barneveld has beaten Van Gerwen 22 times since 2005[/caption]Despite a rivalry that spans decades, Van der Voort believes the two icons wouldn’t have been overly delighted when the bracket was revealed.“Neither of them will be happy with that draw,” Van der Voort said.“But a matchup like that is guaranteed to put both o them on high alert from the very start.”