MICHAEL VAN GERWEN landed a nine-dart finish as he won his second Players Championship of 2017 by defeating Robert Thornton 6-2 in Saturday's final in Wigan.

The World Champion followed up his victory in Milton Keynes four weeks ago by taking the £10,000 top prize in Players Championship Nine, continuing the form which has seen him remain top of the Betway Premier League.

Van Gerwen dropped just one leg in his opening two games as he defeated Chris Quantock and Paul Nicholson, before seeing off Wayne Jones 6-4 to reach the last 16.

He then overcame Gary Anderson by the same scoreline as he came from 4-3 down with a stunning run of three legs, before seeing off another former World Champion, Adrian Lewis, in a deciding leg in a superb quarter-final.

The world number one then whitewashed Jan Dekker in the semi-finals, and produced another moment of magic during a brilliant victory in the final.

Two 11-darters from Van Gerwen had shared the opening four legs, with Thornton finishing double 18 and 84 to remain level before double eight moved the Dutchman 3-2 up.

Van Gerwen then scored 180 and 177 to open leg six, before taking out 144 with two further treble 20s and double 12 to complete a perfect leg - his third on the PDC ProTour this year.

Van Gerwen also opened the seventh leg with a maximum before double eight moved him 5-2 up, and a 13-darter ended on tops completed a comprehensive victory, his 50th win on the PDC ProTour.

"I played phenomenal and I'm a very happy man," said Van Gerwen. "The nine-darter was great and I had an incredible day.

"I did it game after game, not only in a one-off game, and I want to do it again tomorrow. I played really well today and I hope I can continue this good performance because I want to win more titles.

"I'm doing well and things like this keep me motivated. It's difficult to win constantly but I love what I do that makes it a little bit easier."

Van Gerwen added: "Robert did really well today to reach the final. People don't understand how hard it is and you need to concentrate game after game.

"Robert did really well and I'm really pleased for him, but I'm really glad I won this tournament because I think I deserved it today."

Thornton's run to the final was a welcome return to form for the Scottish star, who enjoyed his best finish for 18 months since he had defeated Van Gerwen in the World Grand Prix final.

He overcame Steve Lennon, Ryan Searle, John Bowles, Andrew Gilding, Mike De Decker and Robbie Green in his run to the final, before being overpowered by Van Gerwen.

Dekker - a four-time winner on the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour - enjoyed his best-ever run on the PDC ProTour as he reached the semi-finals with wins over Andy Jenkins, Joe Cullen, Peter Hudson, Joe Murnan and Dave Chisnall.

Green won through to his first semi-final for 12 months with defeats of Darren Johnson, Mensur Suljovic, Justin Pipe, Richie Corner and Jonathan Worsley.

Chepstow's Worsley and Belgian youngster Mike De Decker enjoyed their best finishes on the PDC ProTour by winning through to the quarter-finals alongside Premier League stars Lewis and Chisnall.

World number two Anderson was joined in the last 16 by youngster Evetts, former ProTour winners Murnan and Ian White, Andrew Gilding, Ritchie Edhouse, Jonny Clayton and Corner.

Sunday sees the PDC ProTour weekend in Wigan conclude with Players Championship Ten, with a further £75,000 in prize money on offer for 128 players.

Watch Michael van Gerwen's Nine-Darter
 


Robert Thornton Reaction
 


Sunday's Players Championship Ten will be streamed live online for all PDCTV-HD Subscribers