SUPERB VAN GERWEN WINS SECOND PARTYPOKER.COM WORLD GRAND PRIX TITLE
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN won the partypoker.com World Grand Prix for a second time with a superb 5-3 win over James Wade on Sunday night at Dublin's Citywest Hotel.
The Dutch star consolidated his status as world number one by scooping the £100,000 title for the second time in three years, showing his class in the double-start format with a gutsy display.
Van Gerwen found himself a set down twice in the game, and after taking the lead at 3-2 saw Wade hit back to level - but the World Champion found an extra gear to win the final two sets and claim the title.
Wade started the better, winning the first set 3-1 despite a 13-darter from van Gerwen, who was punished for missed doubles in leg four as the left-hander - a two-time World Grand Prix winner - took first blood.
Van Gerwen hit back from a leg down to level by winning set two in a deciding leg, taking his three legs in 12, 14 and 13 darts.
Wade then secured the third set 3-1 as he followed a double top finish with checkouts of 71 and 117 to move 2-1 up, and the Aldershot ace then added a 106 checkout in set four, only for van Gerwen to take the set 3-1 to level.
Van Gerwen then edged a dramatic fifth set, with Wade hitting back from 2-1 down to force a deciding leg before scoring 180 and 177 to leave 20 in leg five, only to miss three darts at double ten to allow the Dutchman in for a 110 checkout to put him 3-2 up in the game.
Wade, though, hit back superbly with checkouts of 141, 61 and 96 as he came from a leg down to win the sixth set 3-1 and square the game - but the seventh proved key in the outcome of the match.
The 2007 and 2010 winner moved 2-0 up with a brace of double top finishes, only to miss three set darts in the third leg as van Gerwen hit back on tops, took out 106 for a 12-darter and 86 for the set to lead 4-3.
He then finished double eight to win the eight set's opening leg and kicked off the second with a 160 score before finishing double top to move 2-0 up.
Van Gerwen then landed his ninth 180 of the game to pull clear in leg three, before landing tops to secure the title.
"This is amazing and to win this tournament again is fantastic," said van Gerwen. "I missed a lot of doubles but I did everything I could to win the game.
"The 110 checkout to win the fifth set showed how good I was, but it also showed James' class with the way he came back after that.
"James could have won the game, but I think I was the stronger player when I needed to be. James made it very difficult but I was just the better player and I'm so happy.
"He did brilliantly to reach the final and deserved to be there, but there can only be one winner and I'm glad it's me.
"You play darts to be the best in the world and I'm very glad that I'm in the number one position. I want to stay there but firstly I'm going to enjoy this because it's a huge win for me."
Wade conceded that missing three darts at doubles to win the fifth and seventh sets proved costly: "I missed too many important doubles, there were six crucial darts at doubles.
"There were two sets there where I had massive shots and I didn't take them, and Michael took his chances. He's great and he's the man to beat at the moment.
"It's a step in the right direction for me being back in a big final, so I'll take the positives from that. I'm back to where I belong, playing good darts again."
The night also saw emerging Northern Irish player Daryl Gurney win the Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay title for a second time, defeating Polish-born Radek Szaganski 6-2 as he secured a place in the William Hill World Darts Championship in December.
GET INVOLVED!
Join The Conversation online with the PDC's Social Media channels
Twitter - OfficialPDC using the event hashtag #partypokerWGP
Facebook - OfficialPDC
YouTube - OfficialPDC - including exclusive On The Wire daily programme
Instagram - OfficialPDC
Vine - PDC Darts Vines
partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Sunday October 12
Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay Final
Radek Szaganski 2-6 Daryl Gurney
Best of 11 legs
partypoker.com World Grand Prix Final
Michael van Gerwen 5-3 James Wade
Format
Final - Best of Nine Sets
* All Sets are the best of five legs. There will be no tie-break in any set.
* All legs must begin and end with a double, meaning that a player must hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.
MATCH INFORMATION
Radek Szaganski v Daryl Gurney
0-1 - Gurney finishes 66 on double 18 to take the opening leg.
0-2 - Szaganski is punished for missed doubles as Gurney posts double two to double his lead.
0-3 - Gurney posts a 180 in a 14-darter to win a third successive leg.
1-3 - Gurney adds another 180, but Szaganski wins his first leg with a 14-darter.
1-4 - Gurney regains his advantage by finishing 81.
1-5 - Gurney takes out double eight to move a leg away from regaining the title.
2-5 - Gurney misses double 13 for the match, and Szaganski keeps his hopes alive by taking out double 12.
2-6 - Gurney secures victory on double top as he wins his second Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay title.
Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
First Set 1-3 - Wade initially misses three starting doubles before scoring 160 on his second visit, and lands double ten to take the opening leg. Van Gerwen hits a 180 and tops for a 13-darter to level, but after Wade finishes a third-dart double 19 in the third the Dutchman misses four darts at doubles to send the set into a decider, as Wade capitalises on tops.
Second Set 3-2 - The World Champion hits back from a leg down with a 12-darter before adding a 180 and double ten to move 2-1 up in the set. Wade levels in leg four after van Gerwen misses 11 starting doubles, but van Gerwen regains his touch in the decider to post double 16 and square the game.
Third Set 1-3 - Wade kicks off the set with a 160 opening score and wins the opening leg on tops, with van Gerwen levelling on double ten before the left-hander takes out 71 on double ten and punishes three misses from the Dutchman - at double 18 and nine - by finishing 117 on tops for the set.
Fourth Set 3-1 - van Gerwen fires in a 180 and tops to win the opening leg, with Wade replying with a maximum and a 106 finish to level before the Dutchman posts another 180 and double ten for a 2-1 lead and double eight to wrap up the set and level once more.
Fifth Set 3-2 - van Gerwen moves ahead for the first time in the match as he claims a tight set 3-2 in a dramatic decider. The pair share the opening two legs before van Gerwen posts double ten to move ahead, only to miss five starting doubles in leg four - throwing straight for treble 20 at one stage! - as Wade levels to send the set into a decider. The left-hander then scores 180 and 177 to leave 20 - only to miss three darts at double ten as van Gerwen steps in to finish 110 for a potentially key leg.
Sixth Set 1-3 - van Gerwen takes the opening leg, but Wade finishes 141 to level in style, adds a 180 and finishes 61 on double 18 to move 2-1 up and then follows an opening 160 score by taking out 96 to win the set and level.
Seventh Set 3-2 - van Gerwen moves 4-3 up in another tight set - with Wade taking the opening two legs only to then miss three darts to take the set without reply, at double eight, four and two, allowing the Dutchman to sneak the third leg, hit a 177 and a 106 checkout to level and a 180 and an 86 finish in the decider.
Eighth Set 3-0 - van Gerwen secures the title in style as he lands double eight to win the opening leg, follows a 160 opening score with tops in the second and then lands his ninth 180 of the match in leg three, before hitting double top to complete a memorable win.
Match Stats
| Michael van Gerwen | 5-3 | James Wade |
| 44 | 100+ | 51 |
| 18 | 140+ | 28 |
| 3 | 170+ | 1 |
| 9 | 180 | 5 |
| 90.81 | Average | 89.26 |
| 110 | High Finish | 141 |
| 7 | Breaks of Throw | 6 |
| 34/93 | Starting Doubles | 34/90 |
| 18/42 | Finishing Doubles | 16/35 |
ON THE WIRE - EXCLUSIVE PDC ONLINE PROGRAMME