Sporting Life
Michael van Gerwen beat an unimpressed Mervyn King in the final
Michael van Gerwen beat an unimpressed Mervyn King in the final

Darts results: Michael van Gerwen beats Mervyn King in fiery clash to win Players Championship Finals title

By Chris Hammer
Darts
Mon November 30, 2020 · 4y ago

Michael van Gerwen won the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals for the sixth time after overcoming an unimpressed Mervyn King at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

The world number one's pumped up celebrations throughout the match visibly annoyed King on numerous occasions but that didn't stop his veteran opponent from taking an absorbing clash to the wire as he chased a long-awaited major title at the age of 54.

Van Gerwen averaged 105 compared to King's impressive 99.78 and landed four of the seven 100+ checkouts, including a fantastic 160, while the pair also threw four 180s apiece and were never more than two legs apart.

The Dutchman, who beat Gerwyn Price 11-8 in the semi-finals earlier in the night, had the darts in a deciding leg and although back-to-back visits of 134 and 140 left him with 48, he missed two darts at double 16 as King piled on the pressure with a score of 137 to leave 45.

Van Gerwen returned to the board to pin double eight for just his second major of a difficult 2020 by his own sky high standards and he can now head to the Alexandra Palace next month in trophy-winning form once again.

MVG, who won the UK Open Finals way back in March as well as three other non televised titles this season, couldn't hold back the emotion as he celebrated the 41st major PDC crown of his career and his 138th overall, much to King's clear irritation.

King, who was playing in his sixth PDC major title six years after his last, had earlier thumped a below-par Peter Wright 11-4 and raised his game even further despite a barrage of heavy scoring and 100+ finishing from van Gerwen.

He weighed in with checkouts of 115 and 107 to move into an early 3-1 lead and refused to buckle even when MVG produced efforts from 146 and 94 to complete back-to-back 12-darters to level the scores before moving 6-4 ahead with a breathtaking 160 finish.

More sizzling finishing from 120 and 135 followed as the 31-year-old looked as though he was going to sprint to the finishing line at 9-7 up.

However, King unleashed a stunning 126 finish on the bullseye for a 12-dart break - which even he thought about celebrating - after MVG had missed three darts to finish 36 and the next three legs went with throw before the decider was required.

But with the advantage of throw, van Gerwen just about kept his cool under immense pressure to deny King the chance of breaking his major duck and become only the second player in history behind Phil Taylor to win a televised event more than five times.

"I'm proud of myself," admitted an emotional van Gerwen, who averaged 102 for the the tournament and pockets £100,000. "I've worked hard for this, and to come back stronger and stronger like this means a lot to me.

"Of course, it's been a long time since I won a tournament so I'm glad I played a very nice tournament. I played well and I'm glad to have my hands back on the trophy. I've been out of form for a few months and you need to battle back. You have to fight back and I'm glad I did.

"I had to play my best performance I could, because Mervyn was playing a phenomenal game. I couldn't get rid of him and he kept pushing me to the end.

"I needed a couple of really good finishes but I was thinking 'don't let this slip out of your hands'. That was the only thing that I was worrying about."

King also lost his last final in agonising circumstances when he blew a 9-2 lead and missed eight match darts against James Wade at the 2014 Masters but at least on this occasion he can have no regrets over his own performance.

The Suffolk thrower, who has also lost the final of this event in 2010 against Paul Nicholson as well as the finals of the 2012 World Grand Prix, 2009 Premier League and 2008 Championship League, hit 10 of his 16 attempts at doubles as he reminded everyone why he will be a dangerous outsider at the World Championship.

He pockets £40,000 for his efforts this weekend which lifts him back into the world's top 20 at 19th position.

Major title winners 2020 season

Semi-final round up

Mervyn King reached his first major televised final for over six years as he put a strangely poor Peter Wright to the sword with a shock 11-4 victory at the Players Championship Finals in Coventry.

The 54-year-old was playing in his first semi-final since reaching four of them in the same year he finished an agonising runner-up to James Wade in the 2014 Masters, where he blew a lead of 9-2 and missed eight match darts.

King, who has also lost the final of this event in 2010 against Paul Nicholson as well as the climaxes of the 2012 World Grand Prix, 2009 Premier League and 2008 Championship League, is chasing his first PDC major title and will be full of confidence after sweeping aside the world champion.

The Bradwell ace stormed into an unexpected 8-2 lead and although Wright threatened a comeback by taking back-to-back legs, King refused to buckle and won the next three to seal an emphatic triumph.

He averaged 92 compared to Wright's 84 despite throwing one fewer 180 with three while his finishing was far more clinical with 38% to Snakebite's 21%.

King will now face Michael van Gerwen, who is hot favourite after overcoming his arch rival Gerwyn Price 11-8 in the second semi-final.

The defending champion beat the Iceman to win this title for the fifth time last year but was marginal underdog this time around having won 'just' four titles compared to Price's eight this season.

Neither player reached their peak performance in a clash that failed to explode into life like many of their previous 25 encounters - of which MVG had won 21 - but that won't bother the Dutchman as he chases a much needed return to trophy-lifting form ahead of the World Championship.

Van Gerwen averaged 98 compared to Price's 95 despite throwing one fewer maximum with four but it was his finishing that was most impressive as he converted 11 of his 22 double attempts as Price spurned 19 of his 27.

The world number one also looked in trouble when the Welshman broke his throw to go 8-6 up but he responded like the van Gerwen of old to rattle off the next five legs in succession.

Quarter-Finals

Defending champion Michael van Gerwen produced a blockbuster performance of old to thrash Dirk van Duijvenbode 10-5 and set up a semi-final meeting with Gerwyn Price.

The Dutchman trailed 3-1 early on but won the next five legs on the trot to seize control and never look back as he averaged a stunning 110 and also weighed in with three 100+ checkout, including 100 and 148 to seal victory.

Price, who lost to MVG in last year's final but may start as marginal favourite due to his incredible form this season, came through a thriller with Joe Cullen that went to a deciding leg.

The Rockstar stormed into a 4-1 lead only for the Iceman to level matters before the pair, who both averaged 96 and threw seven 180s apiece, traded blows and legs for the rest of the contest until it reached 9-9.

Cullen had the advantage of throw but Price produced a 14-darter with his opponent waiting on 50.

Mervyn King reached his first televised semi-final since contesting four of them back in 2014 as he battled back from 7-2 down to defeat Damon Heta 10-8.

Playing in his second successive major quarter-final having reached the same stage of the Grand Slam of Darts, the Australian was firmly in charge but was reeled in by the 54-year-old, who is chasing his maiden major title.

King averaged 101 compared to Heta's 97 while they both threw five 180s each in an entertaining clash.

King will play Peter Wright, who won six legs on the trot to defeat a shellshocked Michael Smith 10-6.

The world champion trailed 6-4 after his 4-1 lead was wiped out emphatically by Smith thanks to finishes of 94, 105 and 114, but the St Helens star missed double 12 for a nine-darter against the throw in leg 13 and was harshly punished by Wright's 12-darter.

Players Championship Finals: Tournament results

Click here for full tournament guide

ROUND ONE

  • (1) Peter Wright 6-5 (64) Ryan Meikle
  • (32) Adrian Lewis 4-6 (33) Simon Whitlock
  • (16) Ryan Searle 6-2 (49) Dimitri Van den Bergh
  • (17) Daryl Gurney 2-6 (48) Callan Rydz
  • (8) Michael Smith 6-5 (57) Boris Krcmar
  • (25) Gary Anderson 6-4 (40) Keegan Brown
  • (9) Jose De Sousa 6-3 (56) Mike De Decker
  • (24) Vincent van der Voort 6-2 (41) Derk Telnekes
  • (4) Nathan Aspinall 6-5 (61) Scott Waites
  • (29) Ross Smith 6-1 (36) Kim Huybrechtsde
  • (13) Damon Heta 6-1 (52) Maik Kuivenhoven
  • (20) Stephen Bunting 4-6 (45) Ryan Murray
  • (5) Krzysztof Ratajski 4-6 (60) Karel Sedlacek
  • (28) Madars Razma 6-3 (37) Chris Dobey
  • (12) Danny Noppert 6-1 (53) Steve Beaton
  • (21) Dave Chisnall 3-6 (44) Mervyn King
  • (2) Gerwyn Price 6-2 (63) John Henderson
  • (31) Ricky Evans 2-6 (34) Jamie Hughes
  • (15) Jermaine Wattimena 6-1 (50) Steve Lennon
  • (18) Devon Petersen 3-6 (47) Luke Humphries
  • (7) Ian White 6-4 (58) William Borland
  • (26) Gabriel Clemens 6-5 (39) Martijn Kleermaker
  • (10) Joe Cullen 6-3 (55) Adam Hunt
  • (23) Rob Cross 6-3 (42) Jason Lowe
  • (3) Michael van Gerwen 6-3 (62) Darius Labanauskas
  • (30) Jonny Clayton 6-2 (35) Mickey Mansell
  • (14) Glen Durrant 3-6 (51) Wayne Jones
  • Darren Webster 3-6 (46) Jeffrey de Zwaan
  • (6) James Wade 3-6 (59) Niels Zonneveld
  • (27) Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-4 (38) William O'Connor
  • (11) Brendan Dolan 4-6 (54) Luke Woodhouse
  • (22) Ryan Joyce 4-6 (43) Andy Boulton

ROUND TWO

  • (1) Peter Wright 6-1 (33) Simon Whitlock
  • (16) Ryan Searle 6-4 Callan Rydz (48)
  • (8) Michael Smith 6-4 Gary Anderson (25)
  • (9) Jose De Sousa 6-5 Vincent van der Voort (24)
  • (4) Nathan Aspinall 3-6 ) Ross Smith (29(
  • (13) Damon Heta 6-5 (45) Ryan Murray
  • (60) Karel Sedlacek 6-5 Madars Razma (28)
  • (12) Danny Noppert 1-6 (44) Mervyn King
  • (2) Gerwyn Price 6-2 (34) Jamie Hughes
  • (15) Jermaine Wattimena 4-6 (47) Luke Humphries
  • (7) Ian White 6-3 Gabriel Clemens (26)
  • (10) Joe Cullen 6-5 Rob Cross (23)
  • (3) Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Jonny Clayton (30)
  • (51) Wayne Jones 4-6 Jeffrey de Zwaan (46)
  • (59) Niels Zonneveld 1-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode (27)
  • (54) Luke Woodhouse 6-4 Andy Boulton (43)

ROUND THREE

  • (1) Peter Wright 10-9 Callan Rydz (48)
  • (8) Michael Smith 10-7 Jose De Sousa (9)
  • (29) Ross Smith 7-10 Damon Heta (13)
  • (60) Karel Sedlacek 5-10 Mervyn King (44)
  • (2) Gerwyn Price 10-6 Luke Humphries (47)
  • (7) Ian White 8-10 Joe Cullen (10)
  • (3) Michael van Gerwen 10-7 Jeffrey de Zwaan (46)
  • (27) Dirk van Duijvenbode 10-1 Luke Woodhouse (54)

QUARTER-FINALS

  • (1) Peter Wright 10-6 Michael Smith (8
  • (13) Damon Heta 8-10 Mervyn King (44)
  • (2) Gerwyn Price 10-9 Joe Cullen (10)
  • (3) Michael van Gerwen 10-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode (27)

SEMI-FINALS

  • (1) Peter Wright 4-11 Mervyn King (44)
  • (2) Gerwyn Price 8-11 Michael van Gerwen (3)

FINAL

  • (44) Mervyn King v Michael van Gerwen (3)

Players Championship: 2020 Event Winners

Here is a full list of winners from the 23 Players Championship tournaments this season.

Click on the winners name for a review & results

Players Championship 1 (ProTour)

Players Championship 2 (ProTour)

Players Championship 3 (ProTour)

Players Championship 4 (ProTour)

Players Championship 5 (ProTour)

Players Championship 6 (ProTour)

Players Championship 7 (ProTour)

Players Championship 8 (ProTour)

Players Championship 9 (ProTour, Summer Series)

Players Championship 10 (ProTour, Summer Series)

Players Championship 11 (ProTour, Summer Series)

Players Championship 12 (ProTour, Summer Series)

Players Championship 13 (ProTour, Summer Series)

Players Championship 14 (ProTour, Autumn Series)

Players Championship 15 (ProTour, Autumn Series)

Players Championship 16 (ProTour, Autumn Series)

Players Championship 17 (ProTour, Autumn Series)

Players Championship 18 (ProTour, Autumn Series)

Players Championship 19 (ProTour, Winter Series)

Players Championship 20 (ProTour, Winter Series)

Players Championship 21 (ProTour, Winter Series)

Players Championship 22 (ProTour, Winter Series)

Players Championship 23 (ProTour, Winter Series)

Players Championship Finals Prize Fund

  • Winner £100,000
  • Runner-Up £40,000
  • Semi-Finals £23,000
  • Quarter-Finals £12,500
  • Third Round £8,000
  • Second Round £5,000
  • First Round £2,500
  • Total £460,000

Players Championship Finals: Past winners

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