Michael van Gerwen in late Saturday evening restaurant scuffle

Michael van Gerwen was filmed in a late Saturday evening scuffle inside a takeout restaurant, footage that circulated on social media and drew attention while the three-time world champion was taking a rare weekend off. The 36-year-old Dutch player said the encounter was brief, that he did not start it, and that bystanders quickly intervened to defuse the situation.

The video shows van Gerwen near the counter with several other men as a five-person altercation unfolds. At one point a man appears to throw punches while van Gerwen grapples with another figure before stepping away as others hold people back. The exchange lasted only a short time in the footage and those involved dispersed shortly afterward.

Van Gerwen addressed the incident directly, saying it had been blown out of proportion. "After an enjoyable night out, we wanted to grab something to eat, and unfortunately I ended up in a situation you would rather avoid," he said. He added that "the man came at me from the kitchen, not the other way round, following a verbal exchange" and that "people stepped in straight away and the situation was resolved." He also said he spoke with one participant's nephew afterwards and...