On 27 September 2008 Michels added the 2008 WDF French Open to his growing list of titles defeating Welshman Robert Hughes in the final five legs to four.
His PDC career started badly as he earned no money in his first eight events before finally winning £200 for a last 64 place in a Players Championship in Wigan.
He didn't qualify directly through any of the four events, but did finish joint 7th on the Order of Merit, comfortably inside the top 24 who received a Tour Card.
[4] In April, Michels earned a place in the Austrian Darts Open by defeating Dyson Parody and Tobias Hontsch in the European qualifier.
[6] He also qualified for the second European Tour event, the German Darts Championship courtesy of wins over Ante Vranjeka and Gino Vos.
[10] In September, Michels qualified for the German Darts Masters and beat Andy Smith 6–2 in the opening round, before coming back from 4–2 down to see off top 20 player Kim Huybrechts.
[11] Michels kept his run going with a 6–1 victory over compatriot Vincent van der Voort to reach the quarter-finals of a PDC event for the first time.
[13] His run in the event earned him £3,000 which was the main reason in Michels finishing the year ninth on the European Order of Merit which has seen him qualify for his first PDC World Championship by claiming the second of four spots which were available to non-qualified players.