Michael van Gerwen has vowed to regain the world number one spot after his seven-year reign on top was ended by Gerwyn Price.
The Dutchman is now ranked second on the PDC Order of Merit, either side of the world champion and Peter Wright, with all three players currently boasting over one million pounds in prize money to their names.
The new season will pose a different challenge to the previous seven years for Van Gerwen, but the 31-year-old insists it is one he is relishing.
"Of course, it's not nice to not be world number one anymore," Van Gerwen told www.pdc.tv. "But if I had to pick anyone else who deserves it, it's Gerwyn Price. Fair play to him for what he has achieved.
"I've been on top for seven years, so maybe this is going to help me to get the hunger again. I need to make sure I get that number one spot back. I will do, I know that for sure.
"You always need to have challenges. You need to make sure you have the right focus and the right mindset. I think my form was good in the end of the year. The last two or three months I was playing really good darts again.
"Dave Chisnall played the game of his life to beat me at the World Championship, but things like the happen in sport. You have to accept it but don't keep accepting it."
Van Gerwen returns to action at the Ladbrokes Masters, which will take place from January 29-31 at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes.
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