Michael van Gerwen celebrates daughter Zoë's ninth birthday

Darts world champion Michael van Gerwen marked his daughter Zoë's ninth birthday with a series of Instagram posts, sharing three photos of the two together and writing, "So proud of you, you’re doing well. Happy birthday, I love you." The celebration came at a time when van Gerwen’s form has slipped; after thirteen years in the PDC top‑four he fell to seventh place in July and now faces a crucial stretch ahead of the World Championship in December. Zoë has been a regular presence at his tournaments, joining him at Euro Tour events in Leverkusen and Wieze earlier this year, where she was invited onto the stage after his matches. Van Gerwen used the birthday to shift focus from his recent results to his family, emphasizing how important his daughter is to him.