Darter Michael van Gerwen failed to win the Players Championship Finals for the eighth time late on Sunday evening. He lost the final of the last major tournament before the World Cup to Englishman Luke Humphries 9-11. This despite a nine-darter, a perfect leg in darts, and a 9-5 lead.
However, Van Gerwen, defending champion in Minehead, England, had to leave six legs in a row to Humphries. The darts player from Vlijmen had a difficult year with serious dental surgery and several gout attacks. However, with next month’s World Cup approaching, he is starting to get into good shape.
“I can only blame myself for not winning,” said the 34-year-old darts player after his defeat on the podium. “I’m quite close to my best level, but I should have finished. I didn’t throw well in the final phase of the final. All compliments for Luke. He didn’t want to give up and fought until the last arrow.”
Tournament proceedings
Van Gerwen reached the final after being too strong for the German Gabriel Clemens in the semi-final: 11-6. In the previous match he was able to catch up just in time against the Englishman Stephen Bunting. ‘Mighty Mike’ fought back in that match after trailing 6-9 to eventually win 10-9.
The three-time world champion impressed in the second round on Saturday with a resounding victory over Englishman Ross Smith (6-1). He scored the highest average ever in the tournament with 118.52 points.
World Cup is coming
The darts players will now prepare for the most prestigious darts tournament in the world. The PDC World Darts Championship starting on December 15. The final will be played on January 3. All this in the legendary Alexandra Palace in London. Defending champion is Englishman Michael Smith. At the beginning of this year he defeated Michael van Gerwen 7–4 to win his first world title.