"Fantastic" Moment For Van Gerwen

Michael van Gerwen - Betway Premier League (Lawrence Lustig, PDC)

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN has hailed his remarkable Betway Premier League triumph as a "fantastic" moment following Thursday's dramatic win over Peter Wright.

World number one Van Gerwen came back from 3-0 and 7-2 to snatch an 11-10 win over Wright at The O2 in London, punishing the world number three for missing six championship darts during a dramatic finale to the Premier League season.

The triumph saw Van Gerwen win the Premier League title for a third time in five years since he entered the event in 2013, and even the Dutchman was left stunned as he cradled the precious trophy.

"I'm over the moon of course because things like that don't happen very often. When he gets three darts for the match you think you're done," said Michael van Gerwen.

"It felt fantastic," Van Gerwen told the PDC. "Normally it doesn't happen that someone misses six match darts against me, it's the first time in my life I've won a game like this.

"I'm over the moon of course because things like that don't happen very often. When he gets three darts for the match you think you're done.

"I didn't play well in the beginning of the game but after the break I came back really strong. I thought it was won but then he stepped up again, playing well and then he missed six darts. I had a chance and took it."

Wright had fended off Phil Taylor's fightback from 4-0 and 6-3 down in their semi-final at The O2, but was left agonisingly close to capping his first Premier League Play-Off appearance with glory.

"He probably doesn't know how it feels to have that pressure against him," added Van Gerwen. "He's never beaten me in a really important game and I think this was one of those moments where I used that mental advantage.

"He's a fantastic player, more steady and he's one of the big boys now - but still I kept him off the big trophies!"

Michael van Gerwen Video Interview