Michael van Gerwen wins the World Grand Prix (Picture: PDC/Lawrence Lustig)

Darts results: Michael van Gerwen beats Dave Chisnall 5-2 to win the World Grand Prix title for fifth time

By Chris Hammer

Darts

Sun October 13, 2019 · 5y ago

Michael van Gerwen successfully defended his Boylesports World Grand Prix title in Dublin as he denied Dave Chisnall a first major crown with a 5-2 victory in Saturday's final.

World Grand Prix tournament results
World Grand Prix final: Leg-by-leg report
Follow @ChrisHammer180 on Twitter

It's the first time the world champion has retained his crown at the unique double-start major since lifting the trophy for the first of five times back in 2012, while it's also the 36th individual PDC major of an astonishing career.

Defeat will be hard to take for Chisnall, who had played brilliantly all week to reach the seventh televised final - five of which being majors - of his career, only for it to end once again in disappointment at the Citywest Convention Centre.

There was certainly no shame in his performance, however, and had he met anyone else then his average of 93.32, 12 maximums and checkout percentage of 46.43 would probably have been enough to win.

However, he found van Gerwen in typically relentless mood and in the three sets he clinched on deciding legs - the third, fourth and seventh - he did so in no more than 16 darts and didn't allow his opponent an attempt at a double.

The Dutchman finished the match with a slightly superior average of 94.87 despite only hitting four maximums while he pinned 18 of his 35 attempts at finishing doubles and made three ton+ checkouts including a match high 114.

Chizzy missed 37 attempts to double-in, which included seven no scoring visits, while MVG spurned 48, featuring eight 'no scores'.

Van Gerwen won the opening set 3-0 without allowing the 2013 runner-up a dart at a double and although Chisnall levelled the match with a superb 101 checkout in a deciding leg of the second, it proved to be a false dawn.

MVG came from 2-1 down to take the third with a finish from 111 along the way while a 114 checkout paved the way to move him 3-1 up in a set which also saw Chisnall fall two darts short of a perfect leg.

The Dutchman moved a set away from glory when taking the fifth 3-1 only for his opponent to stay alive by edging a decider in the sixth thanks to a brilliant 13-darter.

Chizzy forced a fifth leg in the seventh set too but after failing to get away at his first visit, MVG was able to stroll to his fifth Dublin crown.

The result also extends the St Helens man's astonishing winless run against MVG to 27 matches - including one Premier League draw - while he's still only managed to beat the Dutchman once in 31 televised meetings, at this event back in 2013.

Four of his six previous televised final defeats came against van Gerwen too - the 2016 Masters (11-6), 2016 Players Championship Finals (11-3), the 2016 Perth Darts Masters (11-4) and the 2017 Shanghai Darts Masters (8-0) while the others were against Phil Taylor. - the 2013 World Grand Prix (6-0) and 2014 Grand Slam of Darts (16-13).

The 30-year-old, who has now won 11 PDC titles since lifting his third Ally Pally trophy at the start of 2019, including the televised Masters, Premier League, Melbourne Masters and New Zealand Masters, can now head into more big tournaments this winter having further silenced those critics who dared to doubt his dominance.

After pocketing £110,000, the Dutchman told www.pdc.tv: "It means a lot to me and I'm really pleased with this victory. It's been a phenomenal week for me and I played really well, and it was a really good performance in the final because Dave put me under pressure. This was some of the best darts I've seen from Dave and he never gave in.

"He had a great tournament and he played really well and pushed me, but every time in the important moments I did the right thing - and I think going 3-1 up was a big moment. I feel good and I want to keep this form going now into the big tournaments we have coming up."

Chisnall said: "It's been a positive week and I've played well so I'm proud. When you go 4-1 down against Michael van Gerwen it's going to be tough but I never gave in.

"It was a game of fine margins and I missed crucial doubles in a couple of legs, but that's darts. He punished me and it's my own fault, but I will work on it.

"I've had a great tournament and the atmosphere during the final was fantastic, the crowd gave us both great support. I did better than in 2013 and I'm proud of myself."

CLICK HERE FOR A FULL SET-BY-SET REPORT FROM THE FINAL