PDC Darts Injury Report: Van Gerwen's Jaw Reconstruction, Klaasen's Wrist Battle, and Hopp's Return

The grueling, year-round schedule of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) requires immense precision, but the physical toll on players' bodies is often hidden behind the oche. As the 2026 season pushes forward, several top-tier players are managing severe injuries and undergoing major medical procedures to extend their careers.[1][2]

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen is currently navigating one of the most intense medical recoveries on the tour. The Dutch star is undergoing a massive two-part surgical procedure to correct a severe underbite that has caused him significant difficulty with eating, breathing, and sleeping.[1][3]

The operation involves surgeons physically breaking and resetting both his upper and lower jaws to move them into a healthier alignment. The upper jaw is being moved forward by six millimeters, while the lower jaw is adjusted back to alleviate his chronic physical complaints.[4]

Van Gerwen admitted that he initially underestimated the gruelling nature of the surgery and the subsequent healing process. Despite the pain and the necessity of wearing corrective braces for at least two more years, he has continued to compete at the highest levels of the sport, adapting his throw and routine to accommodate the structural changes in his face.[1][3]

Meanwhile, former BDO World Champion Jelle Klaasen is facing a critical juncture in his career due to a severe wrist injury. In a candid interview earlier this year, Klaasen revealed that he is suffering from extensive cartilage and meniscus damage in his throwing arm.[5]

The 41-year-old veteran explained that practice hours no longer alleviate the issue, and his body has stopped responding to traditional treatments. He noted that if a new medical intervention does not work in the coming months, 2026 will likely be his final year in professional darts.[5]

Klaasen even compared his physical struggles to those of Jules van Dongen, a Dutch-American player who was forced to switch to throwing left-handed due to focal dystonia, highlighting the severe neurological and physical risks that long-term darts professionals face.[5]

On a more uplifting note, German darts star Max Hopp has successfully returned to the PDC Pro Tour after a prolonged battle with health issues. Once considered one of the sport's brightest young talents, Hopp lost his Tour Card two years ago following a debilitating combination of a shoulder injury and a severe bout of glandular fever.[6]

The illness, also known as Pfeiffer's disease, severely drained Hopp's energy levels, while the shoulder injury hampered his mechanics. However, after dedicating himself to a healthier lifestyle and a rigorous rehabilitation program, the 28-year-old regained his Tour Card at Q-School and is now feeling full of energy on the circuit.[6]

While current tour card holders manage wear-and-tear, reigning World Champion Luke Littler recently shed light on a childhood medical procedure that paved the way for his success. Littler revealed that he underwent surgery at Warrington Hospital as a young child to repair strabismus, commonly known as cross-eye.[7]

The corrective eye surgery successfully aligned his vision, giving him the "treble-20 vision" required to become the number one darts player in the world. Littler praised the medical staff, noting that the early intervention was crucial for his development in a sport entirely dependent on optical precision.[7]

From jaw reconstructions to cartilage therapies, these medical journeys underscore a vital reality of modern darts: maintaining a place at the top of the PDC Order of Merit requires as much physical endurance and medical resilience as it does mental nerve.[1][6]