Friday 23 September 2016 10:21, UK
Michael van Gerwen completed a clean sweep of the Players Championship triple-header at the Barnsley Metrodome as he defeated Steve West in a thrilling final.
The Dutchman claimed a third successive midweek win, landing a second nine-darter in as many days.
Van Gerwen had already followed up back-to-back European Tour wins by taking the £10,000 first prize in Players Championships on Tuesday and Wednesday in South Yorkshire.
Having also hit a nine-darter in Wednesday's tournament, he achieved darts perfection once more as one of three players - alongside Yordi Meeuwisse and Simon Whitlock - to achieve the feat in Thursday's event.
Having already seen off the challenge of Kevin Painter and Jonny Clayton, Van Gerwen landed his perfect leg in the third round against Joe Murnan, before then defeating Simon Stevenson, Berry van Peer and Kim Huybrechts to reach the final against West.
West had enjoyed a run to his first PDC final with a superb day in Barnsley, overcoming Mike Zuydwijk, William O'Connor, Jeffrey de Zwaan, Simon Whitlock, Cristo Reyes and Steve Evans to battle through to the decider.
He found himself 4-2 down to Van Gerwen before hitting back to level and then took out 116 to move 5-4 up and within touching distance of a first PDC title.
But Van Gerwen showed his mettle to finish 76 to level and force a decider, and when West was unable to pick off 110 for the title, the world No 1 showed his class by finishing tops for a 13-darter.
Victory means Van Gerwen completed a clean sweep in Barnsley to extend his winning run to 35 matches since his loss to Phil Taylor in August's Sydney Darts Masters final.
He will go into this weekend's Unibet Champions League of Darts in confident mood, however, having won the Perth Darts Masters before his five September triumphs.
West's consolation for his run to the final was £6,000 in prize money and qualification for October's Unibet World Grand Prix in Dublin.
