Darts results: Michael van Gerwen wins 50th individual TV title after beating Danny Noppert at World Series of Darts Finals
Michael van Gerwen won the 50th individual televised title of his remarkable career as he crushed Danny Noppert 11-2 in the climax of the Jack's Casino World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.
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The phenomenal 30-year-old, who picked up his first at the BDO's World Masters way back in 2006 as a hot prospect yet had to wait six years for his second at the 2012 World Grand Prix, produced his third brutal performance of the day to lift this trophy for the fourth time in its five-year history.
Having survived a final-leg decider in a high-class encounter with Gerwyn Price last night, MVG found another gear by averaging 104.02 in a 10-6 quarter-final victory over Jonny Clayton, 105.36 in a 11-4 thrashing of Mensur Suljovic before a heavily one-sided affair against his fellow Dutchman.
In truth he didn't need to be firing on all cylinders at the end of an otherwise dramatic final day as Noppie looked mentally and physically jaded from coming through two nail-biting matches against Ian White and Dave Chisnall that went the distance just to reach his maiden PDC TV final.
The 28-year-old, who entered the tournament as a 150/1 outsider, averaged just 89.37 compared to MVG's 96.95 and missed 12 of his 14 darts at doubles but that should take nothing away from his achievements this weekend.
Van Gerwen's latest success, which comes just a week after a shock first-round exit at the hands of 400/1 outsider Ross Smith at the European Championship, sends out an ominous warning to his rivals ahead of the Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals and, of course, the 2020 World Championship next month.
This is not only his 50th individual career TV title but also his third in the space of a month having also triumphed in the World Grand Prix and Champions League but also his seventh of 2019 following his successes at the Masters, Premier League, Melbourne Masters and New Zealand Masters.
The world number one, whose total title tally this season is up to 13, said: "It's the first time we've played in a tournament in Amsterdam and what a tournament. It wasn't easy for me today, I had to play really well. Noppie had a phenomenal tournament but couldn't make it in the final, he deserves all the credit."
Noppert said: "They're shouting my name and that means a lot to me. Maybe Michael is a step too far but it's a good feeling to play in the final in front of this crowd."
Van Gerwen threw nine maximums in the match compared to Noppert's three and two of them came in the third leg when he was on course for a nine-darter before settling for a break in 11.
MVG made it nine successive legs on the trot against his opponent, who had won the opener in 12 darts, but then comically failed to make it 10 in a row despite scoring 499 points with first nine darts, comprising of two 180s and a 139 to leave two.
He busted his next two visits as Noppert nicked a consolation leg and his last of a tournament which has helped him secure his place at the Grand Slam of Darts, which begins next weekend.
That will cause some controversy as his inclusion in Amsterdam was by virtue of an invitation while Mensur Suljovic, who lost to MVG in the semi-finals, would have snatched the last qualification spot for Wolverhampton had Noppert not reached the final.
The Austrian also turned down the opportunity to play in Monday's qualifying event for the Grand Slam so he will not be present in the week-long major despite being one of the biggest stars in the sport.
Van Gerwen, who averaged 102 this weekend, will be favourite to reclaim his grip on that trophy too after losing to eventual runner-up Gary Anderson in the semi-finals 12 months ago.
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen blew Mensur Suljovic away with a breathtaking display of darts as he powered into yet another televised final.
After wiping out the Austrian's early 2-1 lead with a 12-darter, the world champion won nine of the next 11 legs and despite missing 21 attempts at doubles, the ruthless consistency of his scoring meant he finished with an average of 105.36.
Suljovic didn't help his own cause by spurned 10 of his 14 darts at doubles in a sloppy performance in which he averaged under 90 and he'd long given up the ghost by the time MVG sealed victory with an 11-darter.
The result continues MVG's resounding recovery from last weekend's shock first-round defeat to Ross Smith at the European Championship and will now be supremely confident of adding to his tally of 12 titles this season, which include the televised Masters, Premier League, Melbourne Masters, New Zealand Masters, World Grand Prix and Champions League.
The world number one will now contest an all-Dutch final against first-time major finalist Danny Noppert, who had to come through his second sudden death leg of the day to see off Dave Chisnall in a pulsating clash.
Noppie was playing in just his second televised PDC semi-final after earlier overcoming the jitters of 12 missed match darts to edge out Ian White 10-9 in a nerve-shredding encounter but on this occasion he looked far more calm and composed despite more intense drama.
The tone was set as early as the second leg when Noppert nailed a 141 checkout after Chisnall had narrowly missed bullseye for what would have been a show stopping - yet crowd silencing - 170 while a finish from 100 would later see him move two clear at 6-4.
Chizzy, still chasing his maiden televised title, always stayed in close pursuit of setting up another big final with MVG having been runner-up to the Green Machine at the World Grand Prix and then looked favourite to do so when moving 8-7 ahead in the closing stages.
Spurred along by the partisan Amsterdam, Noppert responded with checkouts of 81 and 91 to complete back-to-back 12-darters while a nerveless finish from 66 put him one leg away from glory.
Chisnall, however, was not done yet, taking the next before his ninth 180 of the match helped him break Noppert and force a deciding leg in which he would now have the advantage of throwing first.
The St Helens man would seize control of the leg and reached a finish first but when he spurned two match darts at double 18 after a treble 12 from 72, Noppert stepped in with a dramatic 102 checkout to spark wild celebrations.
The result also sealed the 28-year-old's spot at the Grand Slam of Darts next week while Suljovic, who would have been heading to Wolverhampton had Noppert lost, misses out having opted against entering Monday's qualifying event.
AFTERNOON ROUND-UP
Raymond van Barneveld was unable to bow out on a high in his final televised tournament in the Netherlands before retirement after losing an absorbing quarter-final clash with Dave Chisnall.
The 53-year-old had rolled back the years on Saturday night to thrill the Barney Army in Amsterdam with a 6-4 victory over his fellow Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena and although he produced another fine performance, he couldn't quite raise the roof again.
The five-time world champion did fire in six 180s and average 97.86 - which was marginally superior than his opponent - while after 10 legs he led 6-4 as the crowd sensed a fairytale day of darts.
World Grand Prix runner-up Chisnall, who has been in great form this season with three titles, was playing in the unusual scenario of having the vast majority of the fans against him but that didn't seem to both him as he won four of the next five legs, including an 11-darter in the fifth of that run, to edge ahead 8-7.
Barney was able to level only for Chizzy to land a showboating 92 checkout featuring back-to-back double 18s before completing victory with a finish from 127 to complete a 12-darter.
The St Helens thrower will next meet another Dutchman in Danny Noppert, who just about managed to scrape into his second PDC televised semi-final in the most nerve-shredding of circumstances.
Noppert was cruising towards the last four of a major for the first time since the 2018 Players Championship Finals when leading Ian White 9-5 but he proceeded to miss 11 match darts over the next four legs as a gripping match headed into a decider.
Diamond, who had failed to win eight of his previous televised quarter-finals, now had the advantage of throw but was unable to reach a finish first as Noppert finally sunk the decisive double at the 13th attempt.
The former BDO World Championship runner-up saw his average slide under 90 as a result of his double troubles but his performance for much of the match suggests he'll give Chizzy a run for his money.
Michael van Gerwen had earlier kept the Amsterdam crowd happy with a commanding 10-6 victory over Jonny Clayton after producing some stunning darts after initially falling 4-2 down.
The world champion, who has won this tournament three of its four previous stagings, levelled matters with a stunning 134 checkout to complete a 12-darter and although the next four legs were shared, he powered into the last four with an average of 104.02 compared to his opponent's 97.06.
He will face Mensur Suljovic, who survived a last-leg decider against Krzysztof Ratajski to reach his second televised semi-final of the season.
It truly was a gripping contest to get the afternoon session under way as Suljovic fired in nine 180s and averaged 98.95 while the dangerous Polish Eagle produced some high class darts of his own.
Not least in the penultimate leg when he nailed a stunning 161 checkout with Suljovic waiting on 46 for the match, although it would ultimately prove in vain.
World Series of Darts: Tournament results
Friday November 1 (1900 GMT)
First Round (Best of 11 legs)
TV Channel: ITV4
- Wayne Jones 4-6 Jonny Clayton
- Ricky Evans 5-6 Ian White
- Kyle Anderson 1-6 Mensur Suljovic
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
- Michael Smith 3-6 Gerwyn Price
- Dave Chisnall 6-4 Simon Whitlock
- Danny Noppert 6-3 Jeffrey de Zwaan
- Jermaine Wattimena 6-4 Gabriel Clemens
Saturday November 2 (1900 GMT)
Second Round (Best of 11 legs)
TV Channel: ITV4
- James Wade 5-6 Jonny Clayton
- Damon Heta 3-6 Mensur Suljovic
- Daryl Gurney 4-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
- Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Gerwyn Price
- Peter Wright 2-6 Ian White
- Gary Anderson 1-6 Danny Noppert
- Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
- Rob Cross 4-6 Dave Chisnall
Sunday November 3
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 19 legs)
TV Channel: ITV4
- Mensur Suljovic 10-9 Krzysztof Ratajski
- Michael van Gerwen 10-6 Jonny Clayton
- Ian White 9-10 Danny Noppert
- Raymond van Barneveld 8-10 Dave Chisnall
Evening session (1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals (Best of 21 legs)
TV Channel: ITV4
- Michael van Gerwen 11-4 Mensur Suljovic
- Danny Noppert 11-10 Dave Chisnall
Final (Best of 21 legs)
TV Channel: ITV4
- Michael van Gerwen 11-2 Danny Noppert
World Series of Darts Finals tournament guide