Dutch Darts Masters: Michael van Gerwen beats Steve Beaton 6-1 in final
Michael van Gerwen won his fourth successive Dutch Darts Masters title with a 6-1 defeat of Steve Beaton in Sunday's final in Maastricht.
Having started his challenge with a second round win over Jeffrey de Zwaan on Saturday evening, Van Gerwen averaged 107.60 in a dominant 6-1 defeat of Kyle Anderson in Sunday's third round.
He then edged out World Matchplay semi-finalist Daryl Gurney 6-5 in the quarter-finals, with the game's opening 10 legs all going with throw before the Dutchman produced the decisive break in the 11th leg by finishing 76 for a 12-darter with the Northern Irish ace waiting on 40.
Van Gerwen then came from two legs down to win 6-2 against Michael Smith in the semi-finals, with the former World Youth champion opening with legs of 11 and 14 darts but paying for missed doubles in leg three.
He then finished 80 and produced a 13-darter to lead 2-0 in the final against Beaton, who replied by taking out 52 for a 14-darter in leg three only to see the Dutchman pull clear.
A 70 finish restored Van Gerwen's cushion, a 12-darter broke and double one moved him 5-1 up before he landed a third 180 of the final and took out 77 to seal his 11th PDC title of the season.
Van Gerwen, who is 4/5 favourite to win this month's Champions League of Darts and 8/11 to retain his world title at the end of the year, told www.pdc.tv: "I think this has been a fantastic tournament. I played okay - I didn't play my absolute best but I feel good. I had a fantastic holiday and the month off with my wife and child. It's been a fantastic time and to kick off after my holiday straight away with a win is a dream.
"You know when you play Steve you have to do the right things at the right moments, make sure you are on him straight away and keep him under pressure and that's exactly what I did."
Beaton had won through the UK Qualifier just to secure a spot in Maastricht but showed some superb form - including beating UK Open champion Peter Wright in the semi-finals - as he searched for a first European Tour victory since 2013.
The 53-year-old said: "I got better and better as the tournament went on but this man just turns it on. It's frustrating because you think you've got a chance and he just takes it away from you. That's why he is number one ... fair play to him."
Dutch Darts Masters: Tournament Results
Friday September 1
First Round
Afternoon Session
Robert Owen 6-0 Jamie Bain
Steve West 6-5 Ryan Searle
Jim Walker 6-5 Darren Webster
Martin Schindler 6-4 Chris Quantock
Christian Kist 6-5 Justin van Tergouw
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Ulf Ceder
Mike De Decker 6-3 Richard North
Kirk Shepherd 6-4 Max Hopp
Evening Session
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-0 Steve Lennon
Jamie Lewis 6-2 Harry Robinson
John Henderson 6-4 Ronny Huybrechts
Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-3 James Wilson
Kyle Anderson 6-4 Justin Pipe
Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-4 John Michael
Steve Beaton 6-4 Nico Blum
Jimmy Hendriks 6-5 Rene Berndt
Click here for Friday's review
Saturday September 2
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Cristo Reyes 5-6 Robert Owen
Alan Norris 5-6 Mike De Decker
Rob Cross 6-1 Jamie Lewis
Jelle Klaasen 3-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
Gerwyn Price 5-6 Martin Schindler
Ian White 3-6 John Henderson
Joe Cullen 6-5 Jimmy Hendriks
Mervyn King 3-6 Kyle Anderson
Evening Session
Benito van de Pas 1-6 Nathan Aspinall
Daryl Gurney 6-2 Steve West
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Kirk Shepherd
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Peter Wright 6-5 Jim Walker
Kim Huybrechts 4-6 Christian Kist
Michael Smith 6-2 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Mensur Suljovic 3-6 Steve Beaton
Click here for Saturday's review
Sunday September 3
Afternoon session
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Kyle Anderson
Nathan Aspinall 2-6 Daryl Gurney
Michael Smith 6-2 Joe Cullen
Simon Whitlock 4-6 Robert Owen
Peter Wright 6-3 Rob Cross
Christian Kist 1-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
John Henderson 6-2 Mike De Decker
Steve Beaton 6-4 Martin Schindler
Evening session
Quarter-finals
Michael Van Gerwen 6-5 Daryl Gurney
Michael Smith 6-5 Robert Owen
Peter Wright 6-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
John Henderson 6-2 Steve Beaton
Semi-finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Michael Smith
Peter Wright 4-6 Steve Beaton
Final
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Steve Beaton