Michael van Gerwen collects ‘brilliant nine-darter’ from Gerwyn Price and has to look for more himself | Darts

In the final against James Wade, Price did the nine-darter trick again, to the delight of the frenzied crowd. The Welshman then trailed 4-3, but then won three legs in a row for the win: 6-4.

“Tonight it felt like I couldn’t miss,” said Price. Van Gerwen congratulated his rival. “A brilliant nine-darter”, said the Dutchman, who lost his match for the second week in a row with an average of more than 105. “Next week in Exeter I have to look for more.” Last week he lost in Liverpool despite a high average in the semi-finals against Jonny Clayton.

Van Gerwen and Price made it a high-quality semi-final in Belfast. It was equal until 2-2, but then Price produced a sample of advanced darts. With scores of 177 and 180 and a finish of 144 he let the crowd go wild: a nine-darter. It was also a break to take a 3-2 lead.

The Iceman ran out to a 4-2 lead, but Van Gerwen didn’t give up. With, among other things, a beautiful 116 finish came Mighty Mike back to 4-4. It then became 5-5, after which a decisive leg was needed to determine a winner. In that leg, however, Price did not give the Dutchman a chance. A second nine-darter was not forthcoming, but with seven perfect darts and an eleven-darter, the Welshman took the victory: 6-5.

Van Gerwen averaged 106.5, compared to Wright’s 108.9. The finish percentage of Mighty Mike was better (62.5 percent to 42.9 percent), but it was not enough for the victory and a place in the final on game night three. Last week, the Dutchman, three-time world champion, also lost in the semifinals. Then he lost out in Liverpool to Jonny Clayton.

Van Gerwen has won the Premier League five times. The leading professional tournament will be played according to a new format this year. Each round, the darters play a mini-tournament according to a knock-out system, starting with four quarter-finals. The semi-finalists receive two points, the finalist three points and the winner five points.

Price thus received the maximum number of five points. The final against Wade was again of a high level. In the third leg threw The Iceman his second perfect leg of the evening. The Englishman came back to take a 4-3 lead, but superior Price took the lead by winning three legs in a row: 6-4.

Price threw an average of over 105, versus just under a hundred average of The Machine† Price decided the final with an 82 finish. “Tonight it felt like I couldn’t miss,” said Price shortly after his impressive performance in Belfast, where he hit two nine-darters and averaged over 105 three times in a row. “I’m almost back in my best shape. Although, I think I already have it.”

Van Gerwen achieved success in the quarterfinals against Joe Cullen, the man in shape in recent weeks. Mighty Mike was too strong for the Englishman 6-3. Cullen was already best at The Masters this year and won two floor tournaments in a row last weekend: Players Championship 3 and Players Championship 4.

The Dutchman, number three in the world, started sharp against The Rockstar, eleventh in the world rankings. Van Gerwen made no mistake on the doubles and took a 2-0 lead. Cullen came back to 2-2, but then Van Gerwen won three legs in a row. At the seventh match dart cleared Mighty Mike the job: 6-3.

Van Gerwen came to an average of 91.05 against Cullen, compared to 91.88 of the Englishman. The finish percentages of both darters were also not high: 26 percent (Van Gerwen) at nineteen percent (Cullen).

Quarter-finals
Michael Smith – Gerwyn Price 3-6
Joe Cullen – Michael van Gerwen 3-6
Gary Anderson – Peter Wright 4-6
James Wade – Jonny Clayton 6-3

Semi-finals
Price – Van Gerwen 6-5
Wright – Wade 4-6

Final
Price – Wade 6-4

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