MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has revealed his pride in topping the McCoy's Premier League Darts table - but he wants to go on and win the title in this week's Play-Offs.
The Dutch star has enjoyed a spectacular debut season in the McCoy's Premier League, winning 11 and drawing two of his 16 league matches.
He topped the league table a point ahead of fellow countryman Raymond van Barneveld and four points clear of six-time Premier League winner Phil Taylor - who is the only player in eight previous seasons of the event to top the regular season league table.
Van Gerwen sealed top spot with a 105 average in a thrilling 7-1 win over Robert Thornton in Newcastle last week, and is looking to take the next step in this Thursday's Play-Offs by going on to lift the Premier League trophy.
"It feels great," said van Gerwen. "It was a big target for myself and a very special moment.
"You can see how difficult it is because nobody has ever done it apart from Phil Taylor, and that means a lot to me.
"It's very hard. Sometimes I'm not playing my best game, but you can't play good for 365 days a year and I think I've done well in these 14 weeks.
"We've got one big week left, and two more games to win - and I want to win them both."
Van Gerwen will take on James Wade in the semi-finals, having hit a nine-darter against the 2009 Premier League champion when they met in the World Championship semi-finals less than six months ago.
"James is one of the best players in the world," van Gerwen said. "He knows exactly how to beat an opponent - he just does a little bit more every time, but I think my form is there to beat him.
"I just want to play my own game and then I know I can beat him. Sometimes you just need to win your games, it doesn't matter how."
Van Gerwen has appeared previously at The O2, having lost out to James Hubbard 12 months ago in the final of the PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship.
That defeat was the second successive year in which van Gerwen had lost in the World Youth Championship final, but he has been determined to return to the Greenwich venue to compete for the £150,000 Premier League title ever since.
"It was a little dream for myself," he added. "Last year I played the final against James Hubbard and I was gutted to lose, so this year I've something to put right.
"At the time last year I was very disappointed, but I always give myself the fault, nobody else was to blame. Shortly after that I did a very good job in the World Matchplay and the World Grand Prix.
"I think I've shown my class since last year [at The O2]. I know I can do it and my form is there, so I'm going to work very hard for that."
Tickets for Thursday's McCoy's Premier League Darts Play-Offs at The O2 in London are still available by calling 0844 856 0202 or by visiting www.axs.com.