Gary Anderson beats Michael van Gerwen to retain Dubai title
Friday 26 May 2017 11:20, UK
Gary Anderson beat Michael van Gerwen in a spectacular Dubai Duty Free Masters final, retaining the title he won last year.
The Flying Scotsman was in blistering form over the two days in the desert, following up his day one win over Phil Taylor to beat world no 3 Peter Wright in the semis and world no 1 Van Gerwen in the showpiece final.
Van Gerwen and Anderson are making a habit of classic finals and having served up a treat in the World Championship in January they were at it again, both averaging in excess of 110 - but it was the Scot who prevailed 11-7 having come from behind to claim the title.
Anderson hit 12 maximum 180s and finished 50 percent of his chances at a double to go with his 110.88 average, while MVG hit six 180s.
Van Gerwen had cruised past Gerwyn Price 11-3 in the semi-finals after victory over Raymond van Barneveld in the quarters, while Anderson saw off Snakebite 11-8 in the last four.
"It's a brilliant win for me. The scoring was great and it just shows what an old boy can still do!" said Anderson,
"A few years ago against a player like Michael, I would have just packed in and given up [when I was behind]. Now I believe I can catch them and get on a roll.
"When I retire, I can look back at playing the likes of Van Gerwen and Taylor and say that I played them and I beat them."
The final began with the pair hitting seven maximums in the opening five legs of the encounter as Van Gerwen opened up a 3-2 lead.
Anderson restored parity in the 10th leg with an 11-dart break of throw, pinning tops for a 41 finish, and back-to-back 12-dart legs moved the Scot into a 9-6 lead.
Van Gerwen responded with an outstanding 11-darter and then set up a possible nine-darter in the 17th leg with scores of 177 and 174 - but after his chance of a perfect leg went wayward, Anderson took out an 11-darter to lead 10-7 before double four sealed the victory.
The PDC World Series of Darts continues in July when it travels to China for the Shanghai Darts Masters at the Pullman Hotel Shanghai South.
Don't forget that you can see all the action from The World Cup of Darts, live on Sky Sports. The arrows run from 1-4 June.
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