VideoMichael van Gerwen is back on the ground after two days of winning in the Premier League Darts. De Brabander lost 6-4 to Gerwyn Price in the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham in the first round, who was absent last week due to a hand injury. Gary Anderson turned out to be the best of the day.
Van Gerwen impressed earlier this month by taking the title in both Exeter and Brighton. In Exeter, he humiliated world champion Peter Wright in the final 6-0. A week later, Michael Smith, losing World Cup finalist, was beaten 6-4 in the final battle.
Van Gerwen could not touch that high level against Price today. He recovered well after an early break against and ran to 3-1, but then the game turned. Price took four legs in a row, after which Van Gerwen still managed to keep his own leg. That turned out to be a stay of execution. He finished the game with an average of 95 points per three arrows, compared to 102 for Price.
pudding legs
Van Gerwen spoke of an unnecessary defeat at Viaplay afterwards. ,,If you are comfortably leading 3-1, you just have to push on. But then I fall asleep a bit and play way too cowardly. That’s very messy. He did make some changes, but if I continue to play well, he will still fall short. But if you throw two or three puddinglegs in a row, it becomes difficult.”
View the images of the match between Van Gerwen and Price.
Price tempered expectations before the start, because his hand wouldn’t be completely pain free yet. ,,Then are games, I know that too’, said Van Gerwen, who whispered something in the ear of the Welshman afterwards on the podium. ,,I said to him: I don’t think your hand is bothering you much. Well, I just have to arm myself against this. I did at the beginning, but not anymore. I’m just selling myself short here.”
Gary Anderson
Despite his early defeat, Van Gerwen retains his lead in the Premier League. The Dutchman has fourteen points after five match days. However, his closest attackers Peter Wright and Jonny Clayton also died in Nottingham before the final. It was between Michael Smith and Gary Anderson.
The Scot had only won one game until tonight; on the first night he was the boss of Van Gerwen. In Nottingham, Jonny Clayton (6-5) and Peter Wright (6-3) had to believe it. Smits beat James Wade (6-1) and Price (6-4).
In the final, Anderson fired from the starting blocks with a ten-darter in Smith’s leg. After six legs and a 4-2 lead, the average of the two-time world champion was well above 111. After the 5-2, the Scots had a bit of trouble, who saw his opponent come back to 5-4. With a convincing last leg, Anderson still managed to win round six, and therefore 12,000 euros.
A won round gives five points for the standings, the losing finalist gets three. The players who fail in the semi-finals may add two points to their total. Van Gerwen remains empty-handed today.
Rotterdam
Next week, the Premier League will land in Rotterdam, when the seventh round will be played in Ahoy. There are sixteen rounds in total, followed by the play-offs in Berlin.
View Michael van Gerwen’s reaction
Results
Quarter-finals:
Michael Smith – James Wade 6-1
Michael van Gerwen – Gerwyn Price 4-6
Gary Anderson – Jonny Clayton 6-5
Joe Cullen – Peter Wright 4-6
Semi-finals:
Smith Price 6-4
Anderson Wright 6-3
Final:
Smith Anderson 4-6
Watch our videos about World Cup darts below.
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