The 24-year-old needed just two darts, hitting a treble 18 before finding double 16. A despondent Van Gerwen looked downbeat afterwards, shaking his opponent's hand before trudging off stage.

The defeat comes just three days before is due to take on world No.1 Luke Humphries in the next Premier League Darts meeting in Cardiff. Van Gerwen has failed to make the final in any of the six meetings so far, although still lies fourth in the table on 10 points.

Last Thursday in Nottingham, he reached the semi-final stage before a harrowing defeat to eventual winner Gerwyn Price. The 35-year-old was hammered 6-1 and has now missed the opportunity to regain some form before heading to Wales this week.

Van Gerwyn was the clear favourite in Hildesheim, and was the only Premier League player competing in the tournament. After his defeat to Luke Littler in the final of the PDC World Championships in January, he's still searching for a first tournament win in 2025.

After his run at Ally Pally, Van Gerwen vowed to return to the kind of form that brought him three world titles. He remains ranked at No.3 in the world, but his current form has raised question marks over his future at the top level.

He's also cut a spiky figure during Premier League meetings, and took aim at Littler last month after the teenager was late for a photoshoot in Belfast. he said the 18-year-old is “not a baby anymore” and “needs to learn."