BAD BEHAVIORS : Darts results: Michael van Gerwen defeats Gerwyn Price in thrilling climax of the Players Championship Finals after poisoning his drink full details
Views: 149
BAD BEHAVIORS : Darts results: Michael van Gerwen defeats Gerwyn Price in thrilling climax of the Players Championship Finals after poisoning his drink full details
Saturday’s nine-dart hero van Gerwen was up against it in a topsy-turvy final packed full of drama despite sub-100 averages from both players, but won three legs on the trot from 8-7 down to move to the brink of victory.
Former pantomime villain Price, who has turned jeers to cheers so much in recent months that he had the lion’s share of the 5,000-strong crowd at the Butlin’s Minehead Resort on his side, was not finished yet and pulled one leg back to force MVG to throw for the match.
Price’s fifth 180 helped him reach a finish first but he blew four attempts at doubles before MVG eventually pinned double five with his last dart in hand to claim this title for the fifth time and a cheque for £100,000.
This is not only his 51st individual career TV title at the age of 30 but also his fourth in just over a month having also triumphed in the World Grand Prix, Champions League and World Series of Darts Finals while it’s also his eighth of 2019 following his successes at the Masters, Premier League, Melbourne Masters and New Zealand Masters.
Van Gerwen, who vanquished memories of last year’s agonising defeat to Daryl Gurney, told www.pdc.tv: “It feels really good. I think I deserved it and I was the better player in the final, but even though we didn’t produce our A-game I think it was a great game to watch.
“I missed a few doubles that kept him in the game but I think this final had everything. I think Gerwyn is good for darts. He’s exciting and he’s a good player and he has done well lately. He deserves every credit and it will be a great rivalry – but today was my day.”
The result also takes his seasonal title haul to 14 overall but he’ll head to the Alexandra Palace next month knowing precisely who the main threat is going to be in the opposite half of the draw, which will be made this Monday.
Price was playing in his third TV final in a matter of weeks, having also finished runner-up to Rob Cross at the European Championship, and will still take a lot of confidence from the weekend despite defeat with the trophy on the line having further underlined his status as a blockbuster star with more dominant performances.
“Michael was the better player tonight,” admitted Price. “I’ve got no complaints, and the opening leg probably set the tone for the match.
“I battled back to get in front but Michael was too strong in the end. I’ve had another great weekend and the crowd were fantastic, they gave me great support.”