Tuesday 28 July 2015 19:33, UK
Michael van Gerwen showed precisely why he is world No 1 as he successfully recovered from his early season dip in form to continue his domination of the darting world by collecting his first World Matchplay title on Sunday.
'Mighty Mike' simply rocked in Blackpool as he added to his UK Open and Dubai Masters titles and banished painful memories of his crushing final defeat to Phil Taylor a year earlier.
Van Gerwen romped to an 18-12 victory over James Wade with a stand-out performance at the famous Winter Gardens, but it wasn't the only display which caught the eye over nine days of competition in lovely Lancashire.
Here, we look back at what we learned from the tournament, which alongside the World Championship and Premier League forms the Triple Crown of darts...
Tears no fears for MVG
A year after crying in despair following an 18-9 defeat against 'The Power', Michael van Gerwen wanted to prove a point in Blackpool from day one.
The Dutchman began his campaign by dismissing compatriot Benito van de Pas before crushing Jamie Lewis with a blizzard of blistering darts for the loss of just two legs in the next round. He also recorded the fourth highest average in the history of the World Matchplay with 110.93.
In the quarter-finals he was handed his sternest test yet when Ian 'Diamond' White gave him the fright of his life. He was forced to battle back from a 6-1 deficit and end White's stubborn resistance with a tense 16-13 win.
"I was struggling at times and I know I can play better, but I'm glad to win this game and proud to be in the semi-finals again," said Van Gerwen.
He was too good for rival Peter Wright in the last four and the 26-year-old capped off a fantastic week of darts by beating 2007 champion James Wade in the final to stretch his unbeaten run over his opponent to 14 meetings.
He will go home with great pride and add the newest piece of silverware to his illustrious trophy cabinet.
"It means a lot to me because after the World Championship this is the biggest ranking event. It's totally different to last year," he said. "Everybody could see how emotional I was after that game and it means a lot to me to win this trophy."
Van Gerwen will now be looking to add the World Grand Prix in Dublin and then the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton before the big one at the end of the year.
Power cut
Phil Taylor arrived beside the seaside in buoyant mood and extremely confident of landing an eighth successive World Matchplay title – a 16th overall.
The Stoke thrower is usually invincible when it comes to playing at the Winter Gardens, handling the heat and humidity better than anyone else.
Things looked rosy early on in the tournament for Taylor as he cruised past John Henderson and Andy Hamilton before producing a vintage display against Dave Chisnall to reach the semi-finals, where he faced James Wade.
But his seven-year reign and 38-match unbeaten run finally came to a shuddering halt as 'The Machine' took advantage of a number of loose darts to eventually clinch victory and dethrone the long-reigning title holder. "He let me in and did not play his normal darts," admitted Wade, who reached his sixth Matchplay final.
The match encapsulated Taylor's topsy-turvy season as the former world No 1 still searches for a first major title of the year.
The Price is right in Blackpool
Former Welsh rugby player turned darts professional Gerwyn Price was the newcomer of the tournament following a rollercoaster ride to the quarter-finals.
The former Neath, Cross Keys, Newport Gwent Dragons and Glasgow Warriors front-rower produced one of the greatest upsets in recent years to topple two-time world champion Adrian Lewis 13-10.
Price, who only joined the paid ranks 18 months ago, had already beaten Michael Smith before upsetting a stony-faced Lewis. However, his Winter Gardens dream was soon ended by Scotland's Peter 'Snakebite' Wright in the last eight.
Price vowed to learn from his time in Blackpool, saying: "I was confident going into this game but I think my mind was drifting elsewhere and I wasn't 100 per cent like I was on Tuesday, but I’ll learn from this and hopefully push on now."
It has been a breath of fresh air seeing Price flexing his muscles while jumping across the Oche with great excitement. Darts fans will not want to wait too long to see another glimpse of the former rugby ace in tungsten action.
A tournament of shocks ...
Adrian Lewis was by far the biggest casualty in Blackpool, but there were a number of other high profile throwers who failed to live up to the hype at the Winter Gardens. Highly-talented Keegan Brown delivered a knock-out blow to Robert Thornton.
Scotsman Thornton equalled Eric Bristow's unwanted record of six consecutive first-round exits at the tour's second most prestigious event.
Five-time world champion and 21-time major title winner Raymond van Barneveld suffered a shock opening round exit at the hands of Andy Hamilton. Premier League semi-finalist Barney was out of sorts with his usual flowing darts failing to make any kind if impression.
... and no Triple Crown for Anderson
Then of course there was Gary Anderson. The Scot was chasing an historic Triple Crown but his dreams came crashing down to earth against opponent Mensur Suljovic all because he was simply "bored".
The reigning World and Premier League champion saw his hopes dashed following a gruelling battle which culminated after midnight. Methodical Austrian Suljovic used his unorthodox style to wear down the usually fluent Anderson who admitted afterwards that he lacked any rhythm.
"I think I spent more time actually standing behind him than what I did playing darts, it's not my kind of game," said 'The Flying Scotsman'. "Games like that bore the life out of me. You throw your darts and get out of the road, it's a quick game."
Anderson, who turns his focus towards next month's World Series tour of Australia and New Zealand, added: "I'll probably get to New Zealand quicker than what that game lasted, that's the way it felt."
Catch all the action from the next big event, the World Grand Prix from Dublin, live from 4-10 October, only on Sky Sports.
