Fifth Time Lucky For van Gerwen

FIFTH TIME LUCKY FOR VAN GERWEN IN CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE DARTS
 

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN won through to the Championship League Darts Winners Group at the fifth time of asking in Wednesday's Group Five of the internet-streamed event - but was pushed all the way by brilliant Peter Wright in their final.

The Dutch star has competed in the previous four days of this year's Championship League Darts, losing to Andy Hamilton and Terry Jenkins in finals along the way.

However, he finally secured a spot in the big-money Winners Group on Thursday October 24 by producing some scintillating darts in Group Five.

He finished second to Wright in the final league table, winning five of his seven league games, before coming from 4-2 down to defeat Mervyn King 6-4 in the semi-finals.

He also trailed by the same scoreline in a superb final as Wright made a brilliant start to the final, but surged through to claim the win.

Van Gerwen had taken the final's opening leg with double ten, before Wright hit tops for a 14-darter and then hit a 12-darter to break throw.

The Dutch ace hit back to break in leg four with a superb 11-darter, which featured two 174 scores, only for Wright to take out 68 and then finish 116 for a 12-darter as he moved 4-2 up.

A missed double nine, for a 91 finish, in the seventh leg opened the door for van Gerwen as he finished 72 for a 14-darter before trading 180s with Wright as he levelled with a 12-dart finish.

Van Gerwen then added another maximum and double 16 to lead 5-4 with a 12-dart finish, before hitting his fifth 180 of the contest in an 11-dart leg as he sealed a brilliant win, averaging 110.95 to his opponent's 112.44.

Click here for video interview with Michael van Gerwen

"It's been a very hard few days, especially in the final today," said van Gerwen. "Both me and Peter were at the top of our game, and it was an amazing game.

"I'd lost twice in the final 6-5, so I'm very glad I won today. Peter is in great form and is doing well all the time, but I couldn't have done much better in the final few legs and I did it at the right time.

"It's been an amazing five days for me, I've learned a lot and it was very hard to get through, but I finally made it.

"I did well in Group Four, I played well and I didn't do much wrong, but Terry threw a nice 96 finish to win the final while I'm on tops - sometimes that happens but you need to learn from your disappointment, and I did.

"I'm with the big boys in the final group now and I can have a couple of days off, and I know I'll be one of the favourites in that group, along with Phil."

Wright had topped the Group Five league table with six victories from his seven league games, having overcome van Gerwen 6-4 in their round-robin contest and only lost to Ronnie Baxter, being edged out 6-5.

The new world number 16 then swept past Gary Anderson 6-3 in the semi-finals, but will now compete in a third successive day of the internet-streamed event on Thursday.

Anderson had won through to the last four for a second successive day, with his narrow 6-5 win over Kim Huybrechts in the final round of league games seeing him finish fourth ahead of the Belgian.

Mervyn King also won four league games on the day to finish in third place, but his semi-final loss to van Gerwen means that he returns to Crondon Park GC in Essex on Thursday to compete in a fourth group of this year's event.

Huybrechts, who won three games on the day, will also return for Group Six alongside Paul Nicholson, who was matched by Mark Webster and Ronnie Baxter with two victories but survived ahead of the pair on leg difference.

Essex's Colin Lloyd, debutant Ian White and Jamie Caven join the five Group Five survivors in Thursday's Group Six, with play commencing at 10.30am.

Championship League Darts will be streamed live online worldwide to LIVEPDC.TV Subscribers, and streamed online through a series of bookmakers' websites around the world who are listed at www.pdc.tv.

Prize money is paid at £50 per leg won in the league phase as the eight players meet each other once, before prize money rises to £100 per leg in the Play-Offs.

Follow Live Scores from Championship League Darts matches through the PDC Live Scores Website .

2013 Championship League Darts
Group Five

League Table

Positions decided by:
Points Won
Leg Difference
Legs Won

Match Information
First Set of Matches
Michael van Gerwen came out on top 6-4 against Mervyn King in a high-quality opener between the two players who hit nine-darters on Tuesday. The Dutch ace took the first two legs before King opened the third with 180 and 177 to set up the possibility of another perfect leg - and after missing a seventh perfect dart, he returned to the oche to complete an 11-darter, albeit after van Gerwen missed the bull for a 170 finish. King then took out 61 to level, and after the world number two edged leg five, King levelled and then broke with the aid of a 180 to move 4-3 up. However, two misses from King in the next proved crucial, as van Gerwen took out 104 to level before moving back ahead on double ten and landing double two for the win.
Mark Webster came from 4-1 down to defeat Ronnie Baxter in the pair's opening game in this year's tournament. Baxter opened the game in style with a brilliant 160 finish, before breaking throw in leg two and finishing 72 for a 3-0 lead. Webster took out 82 to get off the mark, and though Baxter won leg five for a 4-1 cushion, the left-hander took the next three leg level, finished 65 on double six to move 5-4 up with a break of throw and defied a 180 from Baxter to land tops in leg ten to claim the win.
Gary Anderson claimed a 6-5 win in a tight opener against Paul Nicholson. Nicholson finished 20 and 148 to take the opening two legs, before Anderson - aided by a brilliant 161 finish - won four in a row to put himself 4-2 up. Nicholson took out double 16 and 87 on the bull to level, with Anderson finishing 76 to edge back ahead at 5-4. He missed three match darts in leg ten as Nicholson followed a 180 with double 16, but the Scot landed a maximum of his own in the deciding leg before pinning double top for victory.
Group Four semi-finalist Peter Wright continued his good form with a comeback from 3-0 down to defeat Kim Huybrechts 6-4. The Belgian made a superb start, finishing double top, double 16 and double eight to win the game's first three legs. Wright, though, kick-started his challenge with a brilliant 170 finish, hit a 180 as he took leg five and then checked out 154 to level. The Scot then hit double eight to move ahead, with Huybrechts levelling on tops by finishing 82 only to then miss the bull for a 170 checkout of his own, as Wright hit double ten to move 5-4 up and took out 82 to seal the win.

Second Set of Matches
Michael van Gernwen picked up his second Group Five win with a 6-3 defeat of Mark Webster. Van Gerwen took charge early on, punishing missed doubles from Webster to win the opening four legs without reply before Webster landed tops to get off the mark in leg five. Tops gave van Gerwen the sixth, but the Welsh ace posted double eight and double seven to pull back to 5-3. Van Gerwen, though, opened leg nine with two 180s to set up hopes of a second nine-darter in as many days, and after hitting a seventh treble 20 of the leg he missed the treble 19 on the 141 finsh - but crucially returned to hit double 16 to seal victory with an 11-dart leg.
Mervyn King swept past Ronnie Baxter with a 6-1 victory to claim his first points of Group Five. King hit a 180 and broke in the opening leg on double nine, before hitting double six to win the second and trading 180s with Baxter in the next two, as a pair of tops finishes put him 4-0 up. King also missed the bull in the fifth as Baxter took out double five to hit back, but King hit a 180 and double 12 for a 13-darter to lead 5-1 before sealing victory in the next leg.
Peter Wright won a second successive Group Five game, defeating Scottish rival Gary Anderson 6-2. Wright took the game's first two legs, finishing tops and double eight, before Anderson took advantage of two misses from his opponent to take out 95 and win leg three. Wright added finishes of 94 and 76 to move 4-1 up, before double 18 gave Anderson a second leg. Any hopes of a comeback for the former Premier League champion, though, were short-lived as Wright took out 106 and 121 in the next two legs to seal the points.
Kim Huybrechts bounced back from his opening defeat with a 6-3 win over Paul Nicholson. The game's first five legs all went against the throw as Huybrechts took a 3-2 advantage, despite finishes of 100 and 67 from Nicholson. The Belgian then hit tops to hold for a 4-2 lead, and though the next two legs were shared, Huybrechts added a 180 and double 16 to seal the win.

Third Set of Matches
Kim Huybrechts won his second game of the day, hitting a 102.78 average in a 6-2 win over Mark Webster. Webster took the opening leg on tops, despite Huybrechts landing a maximum, before the Belgian levelled with a 120 finish, took out tops to break and finished 64 and double 16 for a 4-1 lead. Webster hit a 180 and tops to reply, but missed double 11 for a 124 finish in the seventh leg as Huybrechts finished double eight to move 5-2 up before landing the same bed to complete the win.
Michael van Gerwen's unbeaten start to Group Five continued with a 6-2 win over Paul Nicholson, who remains without a win after three games. Nicholson hit a 180 and finished 101 to take the opening leg, before van Gerwen levelled with a 12-darter, hit a 180 in a 14-darter to break and move 2-1 up, finished 104 and then hit 180s in the next two legs as he moved into a 5-1 advantage. Nicholson finished 65 on double four to win leg seven, but van Gerwen sealed the win with a 117 finish.
Ronnie Baxter claimed his first win of the 2013 Championship League Darts, holding off Peter Wright's fightback from 4-0 down as he edged a 6-5 win. Baxter produced some superb finishing to take command, taking out 81, 80, 78 and 99 to take the opening four legs, before Wright, aided by a 101 finish, took the next three to hit back. Double ten put Baxter a leg away from victory, but he missed three match darts in the ninth leg as double eight kept Wright's hopes alive and double 16 forced a decider, but the Blackpool ace was first to a finish and hit double 14 for the points.
Mervyn King won his second game of Group Five, finishing with a flourish in a high-quality clash with Gary Anderson which saw the pair average over 104 apiece. The game's first four legs went with the throw, and Anderson took out finishes of 140 and 121 as the pair remained locked after eight legs, only for King to defy a 180 from the Scot in the ninth to break on double 16 before finishing 120 to claim the points.

Fourth Set of Matches
Michael van Gerwen continued his unbeaten day so far with an imperious 6-3 win over Kim Huybrechts, as the Dutch ace averaged 107.33. The pair shared the first two legs before van Gerwen hit three 140s in a 12-darter to win the third, before a missed double 18 allowed the Belgian in to level on double 16. Tops gave van Gerwen a 13-darter in the fifth, before Huybrechts took out a 12-dart leg of his own to level at three-all. Huybrechts added a 180 in the seventh leg, but tops gave van Gerwen a 13-darter before he hit the same bed to follow a 174 in moving 5-3 up with a break, before he sealed an impressive win with a 13-darter on double ten.
Paul Nicholson won his first game of Group Five, defeating Mark Webster 6-1 with a fine performance. Nicholson finished double 16 in the opening leg before taking out the day's second 170 finish in leg two, and he then won the third for a 3-0 lead. Webster hit a 180 as he got off the mark in leg four, but Nicholson finished 101 to regain his cushion, and then took out 85 and 98 to seal his first two-pointer.
Peter Wright bounced back to winning ways with a 6-3 win over Mervyn King. The pair traded 180s as King won the opener on double ten, and the next two were shared before Wright took out 121 on the bull to win leg four. Double 15 gave King the fifth, before Wright took out 101 and then broke on 62 to lead 4-3. King missed two darts at double 16 to break back as tops moved Wright 5-3 up, and he landed a 180 in the ninth before landing double one to claim the win.
Ronnie Baxter picked up a second successive victory as he defeated Gary Anderson 6-2. Double four gave Baxter the opener, before Anderson levelled with a 78 finish on double 12. Baxter hit a 180 and double ten to break again in leg three before defying a 180 from the Scot to win the fourth and lead 3-1. Anderson took out 100 in two darts to take leg five, but the Blackpool ace finished an 11-darter with a 91 finish, before taking the next with a break on double eight and leg eight to claim the win.

Fifth Set of Matches
Kim Huybrechts won his third game of the day, averaging 103.14 in a fine performance to defeat Ronnie Baxter 6-3. Huybrechts made a sensational start, hitting five 180s in the first three legs as he took out finishes of 11, 13 and 12 darts. Baxter hit back with double 16 before landing a 180 and double ten to pull back to 3-2 before levelling on double two. He also hit a 180 in the seventh leg, but tops saw Huybrechts move back ahead before he finished double 16 and double eight to claim the win.
Gary Anderson ended Michael van Gerwen's unbeaten run with a 6-5 victory over the Dutch ace. The game's first six legs were shared as the pair rattled through the first half of the contest, before Anderson regained the edge with double 18 in the seventh. Van Gerwen hit double 12 to level at four-all before he punished a miss at tops from Anderson by taking out 165 to lead for the first time at 5-4. Anderson, though hit double ten to force a decider, and hit a 180 in the final leg before edging to victory on double one.
Mervyn King came from 3-1 down to boost his Play-Off hopes with a narrow 6-5 defeat of Paul Nicholson. The opening three legs went against the throw, before Nicholson hit a 180 and double two to move 3-1 up, only for King to reply by winning the next two legs to level, taking out 40 to move ahead and a brilliant 170 finish to lead 5-3. Nicholson took out double eight and 118 to force a decider, but missed double 16 for the win as tops gave King both points.
Peter Wright won his fourth game of the day, as he hit back from behind to defeat Mark Webster in a deciding leg. Double ten gave Wright the opener, before Webster finished 85, 66 and 100 to lead 3-1. Wright, aided by finishes of 84, 66 and 65, took four of the next five to lead 5-4, only for Webster to hit a 180 and double ten to force a decider, but Wright landed tops to claim the win.

Sixth Set of Matches
Gary Anderson improved his chances of securing a top four finish with a 6-4 win over Mark Webster, whose hopes of avoiding elimination are out of his hands. The first four legs went with throw before Webster took out 83 to move 3-2 up. Anderson, though, broke back with double four and took out 108 to move 4-3 up, only to miss the bull in the eighth leg as double 16 saw the left-hander level. Anderson, though, hit tops to lead 5-4, and then punished a missed bull from Webster to seal the win by hitting double ten.
Mervyn King moved closer to sealing a semi-final place with a 6-4 win over Kim Huybrechts. The pair traded the first two legs before King hit 180s in the next two as he took a 3-1 advantage. Huybrechts landed a 180 and double eight to hit back, and finished tops to level and double 18 to move 4-3 up. King, though, levelled by pinning the bull for a 121 finish, followed a 174 with double three to move 5-4 up and hit a 180 and an 86 finish to secure the win.
Paul Nicholson blew the race to avoid elimination wide open once again with a 6-2 defeat of Ronnie Baxter, who could have knocked out the Australian and Mark Webster with a victory. Nicholson won the opening leg with a 100 finish as the pair shared the first four legs, before Nicholson took the fifth and then broke in the sixth on double four, following five misses from Baxter. The Blackpool ace then burst his score on 90 in the seventh leg, mistakenly "checking out" 130 on the bull, as Nicholson stepped in on double eight to move 5-2 up before he sealed the win on double 16. The margin of defeat eliminates Mark Webster.
Peter Wright took over at the top of the Group Five league table with a 6-4 win over Michael van Gerwen. Van Gerwen finished 104, 90 and 112 in taking a 3-1 lead, before Wright took out a second 76 finish of the game and then checked out 60 to level. Van Gerwen hit a 180 and double 12 to move 4-3 up, and opened the eighth leg with 180 and 177, but after missing out on a nine-darter went on to lose the leg, as Wright stole in on double 16, took the ninth and then punished misses from the Dutchman to claim victory on double one.

Final Set of Matches
Michael van Gerwen eliminated Ronnie Baxter from Group Five, alongside Mark Webster, with a 6-2 victory over the Blackpool ace in their final league game. Van Gerwen took out 62, 88, double nine and double ten to take a 4-0 lead, and also won the fifth leg before Baxter capitalised on four missed doubles from the Dutchman to get off the mark as he followed a 180 with double ten. Baxter then took out 84 on double 11 to win a second leg, but then missed the same bed to finish a 142 combination as van Gerwen stepped in to complete his fifth win of the league stage on tops.
Mark Webster finished the league stage with a flourish as he exited in Group Five with a 6-5 win over Mervyn King. King took the games opening two legs before Webster hit back to level, and the left-hander then hit two 180s as he broke to lead 3-2. King, aided by a 180, levelled and then took out double 16 to move 4-3 up. Webster finished 120 with a party-piece finish of single 20 - which blocked the treble - and two bullseyes to win the eighth, and after King hit double seven to lead 5-4, the Welshman took out a fine 139 checkout to force a decider. Both players left 88 in the final leg, with King missing the bull for victory and only able to watch as Webster finished the combination in two darts to claim a second win of the day.
Peter Wright sealed top spot in the league table with a 6-2 win over Paul Nicholson, who survives to compete in Group Six. Wright  took the game's first three legs and then finished 107 to move 4-0 up before Nicholson took out double eight to hit back. The pair traded 180s as Wright won a fifth leg, and after Nicholson posted double nine to hit back, Wright took the eighth with the aid of a 180 to seal his sixth win of the league phase.
Gary Anderson snatched a Play-Off place with a 6-5 win over Kim Huybrechts. Anderson took out double four, 82 and 87 to win the first three legs before missing darts at doubles in the next two as Huybrechts hit back 3-2. Double 12 gave Anderson a 4-2 lead, before Huybrechts finished 76 and double 16 to level, and the Belgian then took out 92 with an improvised combination of single 20 and two double 18s to lead 5-4. Anderson, though, finished 125 with a bullseye, 25, bullseye combination to force a deciding leg, which he won by taking out 36.

Semi-Finals
Peter Wright won through to the Group Five final, producing some superb finishing to defeat Gary Anderson 6-3 in their all-Scottish clash. The pair shared the opening two legs before Anderson missed two doubles to break in the third, as double eight kept Wright ahead. Anderson hit tops to win two of the next three as the pair were tied at three-all, but missed three darts to win the seventh leg as Wright took out double six to lead 4-3, before finishing 132 with a bullseye, bullseye, double 16 combination to move two legs clear and a 101 finish to seal his spot in the decider.
Michael van Gerwen came from behind to claim his place in the final with a 6-4 defeat of Mervyn King. King took the first two legs, edging a nervy opener before finishing 120 for a 2-0 lead, and though van Gerwen hit back in the third, he took out double ten to lead 3-1. Van Gerwen finished 93 on double 18 to pull back another leg, but King produced a superb 12-darter which featured a 180 and a 121 finish to lead 4-2. The Dutch ace, though, landed a 171 in a 13-darter to hit back, posted a 180 and tops for a 72 finish to level - after King missed the bull - and then hit scores of 174, 123 and 180 to set up a fine ten-darter in moving ahead for the first time at 5-4. The Dutch ace then missed double eight for a 96 finish to claim the win, but returned to land double four to book his place in a third final.

Final
Peter Wright 4-6 Michael van Gerwen
Van Gerwen took the final's opening leg with double ten, before Wright hit tops for a 14-darter and then hit a 12-darter to break throw. The Dutch ace hit back to break in leg four with a superb 11-darter, which featured two 174 scores, only for Wright to take out 68 and then finish 116 for a 12-darter as he moved 4-2 up. A missed double nine, for a 91 finish, in the seventh leg opened the door for van Gerwen as he finished 72 for a 14-darter before trading 180s with Wright as he levelled with a 12-dart finish. Van Gerwen then added another maximum and double 16 to lead 5-4 with a 12-dart finish, before hitting his fifth 180 of the contest in an 11-dart leg as he sealed a brilliant win, averaging 110.95 to his opponent's 112.44.

Match Stats

Group Five Stats

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