Michael van Gerwen won the Players Championship Finals (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

Players Championship Finals: Michael van Gerwen wins a fourth successive TV title by defeating Jonny Clayton

Darts

Mon November 27, 2017 · 7y ago

Michael van Gerwen further underlined his dominance in darts as he won a fourth successive TV title with victory at the Players Championship Finals.

The world number one, who is now Sky Bet's 8/11 favourite to win the World Championship, thrashed surprise finalist Jonny Clayton 11-2 at the Butlins Minehead Resort as he lifted this trophy for the third time in a row and fourth overall.

Van Gerwen headed into this tournament having claimed the last three big televised events this season at the European Championship, World Series of Darts Finals and the Grand Slam of Darts while he's now won 28 competitive matches in a row dating back to his shock defeat to John Henderson at the World Grand Prix back in October.

The Dutchman averaged 105.5, hit five 180s and nailed 11 of his 23 darts at doubles as he gave Clayton, who was appearing in his maiden TV final, no chance to get into the match.

MVG pockets a cheque for £100,000 and takes his career tally of TV titles to 40 at the ripe old age of 28!

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Van Gerwen, who had beaten Jan Dekker and Justin Pipe earlier on Sunday, told www.pdc.tv: "It's been a phenomenal weekend. It was a great tournament, I think I played really well and I had to perform against new players round by round, so I had to keep my focus.

"Jonny did great to reach the final. It's a big step for him because he wasn't in the top 32, so it's a massive step for his career. Fair play to him, he did really well but I'm glad I won the final.

"After not being here in the UK Open I'm really glad to be back here with this trophy. I've won the last four TV tournaments so this is great for my confidence going into the World Championship - but I'll enjoy this title first."

His Welsh opponent was a 250/1 no-hoper with Sky Bet at the start of the tournament having never previously reached a quarter-final at this level but he'll now go down as a talent to look out for in future events following his superb efforts this weekend, which peaked with a shock victory over top seed Rob Cross in the semi-finals.

The Pontyberem thrower said: "You take one game at a time, and to get this far in front of this amazing crowd was awesome. I've had a brilliant weekend and the support I've had has been amazing.

"When you play against Michael on form like that it's really difficult, but I enjoyed the final. I'm proud of what I've achieved this weekend."

Semi-final round-up

Jonny Clayton secured a first televised final appearance and will take on defending champion Michael van Gerwen in the climax of the Players Championship Finals.

The Welshman, who was rated a 250/1 no-hoper with Sky Bet at the start of the tournament, trailed 3-0, 4-1 and 5-2 against rising star Rob Cross in the semi-finals before producing a gutsy fightback to claim a shock 11-8 triumph.

Cross, runner-up to MVG at the recent European Championship, was hot favourite to reach his second major TV final of a stunning maiden season on the PDC circuit, in which he's also won four Players Championship titles, struggled to reach his top form as Clayton reeled him in.

At 5-2 down, he took five legs from six to level at seven-all and although Voltage finished 88 to move 8-7 up, Clayton produced a superb 120 finish.

From there the Ferret continued his late surge by taking out tops to lead for the first time, finished double 18 to lead 10-8 and then sealed his place in the final with double six.

World number one van Gerwen booked his place in the final by demolishing Justin Pipe 11-3 and he'll be the odds-on favourite to lift the trophy for the third time in a row and fourth overall.

Taunton's Pipe - appearing in the last four of the Players Championship Finals for a third time - shared the opening four legs as he landed a pair of 12-darters which each featured two 180s.

Van Gerwen, though, reeled off the next seven legs without reply in an imperious spell to move 9-3 up, with Pipe landing a 180 and double 18 to respond before the Dutchman took out 96 and double two to seal the win.

Rob Cross was stunned by Jonny Clayton (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)