Dusseldorf delight for Michael van Gerwen in European Darts Open
Wednesday 3 August 2016 16:23, UK
Michael van Gerwen secured his 12th career European Tour title and fourth of 2016 by edging out Peter Wright 6-5 in a superb final of the European Darts Open in Dusseldorf.
The world No 1 finished a day that included two missed attempts at double 12 for nine-dart finishes in style, as he beat Wright with an average of 104.06 in front of another sell-out crowd at the Maritim Hotel.
After opening his challenge in Dusseldorf with a whitewash of Jamie Caven on Saturday, Van Gerwen began the final day with a 6-2 victory over Australia's Kyle Anderson.
Van Gerwen - last weekend's World Matchplay champion - was ruthless in victory against Anderson, including a crowd-pleasing 131 finish of treble 17 and two double tops.
He then went on to defeat Jelle Klaasen 6-4 in the quarter-finals and Kim Huybrechts 6-3 in the semi-finals, coming agonisingly close to a nine-darter in each game.
In a thrilling final against Wright, Van Gerwen marched in to a 3-1 lead before missing two darts to go within two of victory.
Wright, who averaged over 100 himself, levelled the score at 3-3 before Van Gerwen pounced to hold and then break again.
The Scot showed real strength, though, to break Van Gerwen's throw and take the match into a deciding leg.
A 140 and a 180, followed by a 98 checkout for an 11-darter secured the title for the world No 1, who was delighted to claim his 13th tournament win of 2016.
Van Gerwen said: "You always have to play well against Peter. I'm trying my best, this is fantastic as it is one of my favourite venues on the European Tour."
Wright was arguably more impressive on his way to meeting the Dutchman, with impressive wins over Daryl Gurney and Mensur Suljovic before a 6-4 semi-final victory over Stephen Bunting.
Wright, the winner of this competition in Dusseldorf in 2014, said he was satisfied with his weekends work after surviving four missed match darts from Steve West in round two.
He said: "Sometimes you need a bit of luck and I got that against Steve West. I got five legs against the world number one, I'm proud of myself."
