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Michael van Gerwen celebrates winning the PDC World Darts Championship final
Michael van Gerwen celebrates winning the PDC World Darts Championship final

PDC World Darts Championship final recap: Michael van Gerwen 7-3 Michael Smith

By Chris Hammer
Darts
Thu January 03, 2019 · 6y ago

Leg-by-leg report and highlights from the PDC World Darts Championship final as Michael van Gerwen beat Michael Smith at the Alexandra Palace.

  • Scroll down for leg-by-leg recap, stats and video highlights
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But let's not end with a note on the Premier League. Instead we'll sign off with the greatest star of darts celebrating the moment he reached the pinnacle of the sport for the third time...

Premier League line-up

As is traditional, PDC chairman Barry Hearn has revealed the Premier League Darts line-up for the 2019 season. There were no real surprises with Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Peter Wright, Gary Anderson, Daryl Gurney, Gerwyn Price, Mensur Suljovic, James Wade, Michael Smith and Raymond van Barneveld getting the nod.

The inclusion of Barney will polarise opinion considering his 2018 form certainly doesn't deserve a spot but he is retiring next year and he does sell a lot of tickets! Apart from that there can be no real debate although the likes of Adrian Lewis, Simon Whitlock, Dave Chisnall and youngsters like Dimitri van den Bergh had claims.

Van Gerwen crowned champion

Michael van Gerwen was clearly thrilled and relieved to get his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy for the third time in his career and you have to wonder how many more he'll win. He's not found it the easiest of tournaments compared to all the others he's dominated in his incredible career - which consists of four Premier Leagues, four World Grand Prix and three Grand Slams - but nobody could give him a real test this year.

Despite not delivering his best tonight, Michael Smith can head home with his head held high following this run to his first world final and he certainly has the ability and potential to be here again. And he has reason to cheer up very quickly - he gets married on Saturday!

Michael van Gerwen defeats Michael Smith 7-3 to become World Champion for the third time!

So what has been a largely unpredictable World Championship ends with the most obvious champion, but let that take nothing away from what has been an enthralling two and a half weeks of darts.

Michael van Gerwen was clearly a deserving winner, averaging over 100 in all his matches and only dropping eight sets throughout the tournament - with three of those coming tonight - but it's a real shame Michael Smith couldn't produce his best to make this final much closer.

The St Helens man had darts to win five of the last six sets and could only muster three of them which was costly considering he found himself 4-0 down against the more clinical van Gerwen, who can now celebrate becoming the second man after Phil Taylor to be a PDC World Champion more than twice.

Michael van Gerwen 7-3 Michael Smith: Match Stats

Averages

  • MVG: 102.21
  • Smith: 95.29

180s

  • MVG: 14
  • Smith: 13

Doubles

  • MVG: 25/54 (46.3%)
  • Smith: 19/47 (40.43%)

Highest Checkouts

  • MVG: 129 (3x 100+)
  • Smith: 127 (3x 100+)

SET 10 SCORE: Van Gerwen 3-1 Smith
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 7-3 Smith (Best of 13 sets)

Leg Four
Michael van Gerwen has done it! The Dutchman kicks off the leg with his 14th 180 of the match and further visits of 59, 134 and 96 leave him 32, which he takes out at the second attempt for a title-clinching 14-darter. It's his third world title of his incredible career but in truth he didn't really have to be anywhere near his best to do it.
MVG 3-1 Smith

Leg Three
MVG, who earlier hit his 14th 180, spurns his first match dart at double 16 and Smith keeps the match alive by pinning tops for a 58 checkout that completes a 14-darter..
MVG 2-1 Smith

Leg Two
Smith misses his 27th and 28th dart at a double when failing to check out from 64 and the man who beat him in the Premier League final pins double 16 to move one leg away from yet another major title.
MVG 2-0 Smith

Leg One, Smith to throw first
Smith hits his 12th 180 of the match (maximum scores now level at 12 apiece) but can't capitalise as visits of 134, 134 and 171 leave MVG 62, which he takes out for a 12-dart break of throw.
MVG 1-0 Smith

SET NINE SCORE: Van Gerwen 2-3 Smith
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 6-3 Smith (Best of 13 sets)

Leg Five
Smith misses double seven for a 122 checkout but after MVG fails in his quest to take out 114, the St Helens man pins it with his first attempt of his next visit to clinch a third set.
MVG 2-3 Smith

Leg Four
MVG hits his 12th 180 shortly before Smith lands with his 11th but he's unable to carve out an attempt at a double as his opponent takes out 72 under pressure to force a deciding leg.
MVG 2-2 Smith

Leg Three
One leg away from victory now for van Gerwen as he kicks this one off with his 11th 180 before going on to complete a 13-darter.
MVG 2-1 Smith

Leg Two
After MVG misses double tops, Smith accidentally hits it when left with 60 but he doesn't bat an eyelid as he directs his aim at two 10s which he pins at the first attempt for a 17-dart hold.
MVG 1-1 Smith

Leg One, MVG to throw first
MVG lands a 10th 180 of the match on his way to winning the leg in 14 darts, finishing it off with a 54 checkout as Smith waited on 118. Two legs from glory.
MVG 1-0 Smith

SIXTH INTERVAL: MVG 6-2 Smith (Best of 13)

Odds: Michael van Gerwen is now 1/100 to win the one set he needs to win the world title while Smith is 20/1 for the most famous of darts comebacks ever. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

  • MVG: 102
  • Smith: 95

180s

  • MVG: 9
  • Smith: 10

Doubles

  • MVG: 20/46
  • Smith: 15/40

Highest Checkouts

  • MVG: 129 (3x 100+)
  • Smith: 127 (3x 100+)

SET EIGHT SCORE: Van Gerwen 3-2 Smith
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 6-2 Smith

Leg Five
The roof would have lifted off the Alexandra Palace had Smith's attempt to complete a 170 checkout hit the bullseye and although it fell into the outer green ring, he was gifted another chance to win the leg when MVG missed double 16 to finish off his 112. But after hitting single five, Smith's efforts at double 10 and then two fives were also missed and the Dutchman duly punished him. That's surely game over now.
MVG 3-2 Smith

Leg Four
MVG easily holds his throw in a rather uneventful leg but the next won't be as it'll decide who takes this crucial eighth set.
MVG 2-2 Smith

Leg Three
Smith gets himself ahead again in this set when his 10th 180 helps him on his way to a 15-dart leg, which he finishes with a 93 checkout with MVG waiting on 76.
MVG 1-2 Smith

Leg Two
The crowd roar when MVG misses three darts at double 10 but when Smith is unable to take out 138 - instead leaving himself 40 for a potential next visit - they're silenced when his next attempt finds the intended target.
MVG 1-1 Smith

Leg One, Smith to throw first
Smith left himself 36 after a superb visit of 134 but he then decides to bust his score with his last dart after going inside on double nine. MVG looks set to break from 52 but spurns too darts at double 16 and Smith just about takes advantage by pinning two 18s with his last dart in hand.
MVG 0-1 Smith

FIFTH INTERVAL: MVG 5-2 Smith

Odds: Michael van Gerwen is now 1/33 for triumph while Michael Smith can be backed at 12/1 to come back and win. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

  • MVG: 104
  • Smith: 97

180s

  • MVG: 9
  • Smith: 9

Doubles

  • MVG: 17/35
  • Smith: 13/31

Highest Checkouts

  • MVG: 129 (3x 100+)
  • Smith: 127 (3x 100+)

SET SEVEN SCORE: Van Gerwen 3-1 Smith
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 5-2 Smith

Leg Four
A pumped up van Gerwen lets his emotions out when he takes out a superb 112 checkout to complete a 15-darter which moves him two sets away from his third world title. Smith's comeback comes to a halt.
MVG 3-1 Smith

Leg Three
MVG's ninth 180, which levels up the maximum count, sets him on his way to a comfortable 13-darter in which he could even afford to miss two at a double in his previous visit due to Smith being way back on 258 at the time.
MVG 2-1 Smith

Leg Two
A steady hold for Smith in 15 darts, with MVG back on 114 and he's definitely playing his best darts of the final so far. He needs to keep it up for much longer though to ask the world number one serious questions.
MVG 1-1 Smith

Leg One, MVG to throw first
Both men hit a 180 in the leg (Smith now leading the maximum count 8-7) but MVG stops Smith's run of five successive legs with a 13-darter - but only after his opponent missed a dart at 13 to take out 68.
MVG 1-0 Smith

SET SIX SCORE: Van Gerwen 0-3 Smith
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 4-2 Smith

Leg Three
Get in there Michael Smith! Visits of 96, 117, 84 and 134 leave him 70, which he clinically takes out to whitewash MVG in the set. Is the tide turning out of nowhere?!
MVG 0-2 Smith

Leg Two
Wow, did Smith need a purple patch like this or what?! The St Helens man throws his eighth 180 to leave him 124, which he takes out on the bullseye for a stunning 12-darter. That's three 100+ checkouts in a row, with the latter two on the bull.
MVG 0-2 Smith

Leg One, Smith to throw first
Smith follows up that 126 checkout to win the fifth set with a 127 checkout on the bullseye to take the opening leg in the sixth, which also featured MVG's seventh 180 of the match.
MVG 0-1 Smith

FOURTH INTERVAL: MVG 4-1 Smith

Odds: Michael van Gerwen is now 1/25 for glory while Michael Smith is 10/1 to maintain his mini revival and win. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

  • MVG: 104
  • Smith: 96

180s

  • MVG: 6
  • Smith: 7

Doubles

  • MVG: 14/29
  • Smith: 9/26

Highest Checkouts

  • MVG: 129
  • Smith: 124

SET FIVE SCORE: Van Gerwen 2-3 Smith
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 4-1 Smith

Leg Five
The Alexandra Palace erupts as Smith hits treble 20, treble 14 and double 11 for a stunning 124 checkout - with MVG waiting on 20 - to break the Dutchman's throw and win his first set of the match. His reaction says it all but at least he's prevented the whitewash. Can he kick on from here and produce a miraculous comeback? It's not as if MVG is playing that well, it's more down to how poorly Smith has played until now.
MVG 2-3 Smith

Leg Four
MVG comes within a whisker of his second 170 checkout of the tournament but his attempt at the bull hits the 25 and Smith holds his nerve with his last dart in hand to pin double 10 and force a decider.
MVG 2-2 Smith

Leg Three
A valiant seventh 180 leaves Smith four but it's all in vain as MVG comes back to pin double 16 with his first attempt to complete a 13-darter.
MVG 2-1 Smith

Leg Two
Not a great standard in this leg, with Smith taking it in 17 darts but he was under pressure to hit double 10 after MVG's 112 had left him 64.
MVG 1-1 Smith

Leg One, MVG to throw first
What a shame this final isn't (so far) living up to the hype. Michael Smith is really struggling up there and another leg drifts by, with MVG following up three successive visits of 140 before taking out 81 for an 11-darter. Smith was back on 258.
MVG 1-0 Smith

THIRD INTERVAL: MVG 4-0 Smith

Odds: Michael van Gerwen is 1/50 to win this one-sided final while Michael Smith is 14/1 to mount a stunning comeback and win. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

  • MVG: 102
  • Smith: 95

180s

  • MVG: 6
  • Smith: 6

Doubles

  • MVG: 12/26
  • Smith: 6/20

Highest Checkouts

  • MVG: 129
  • Smith: 90

SET FOUR SCORE: Van Gerwen 3-2 Smith
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 4-0 Smith

Leg Five
Smith reaches a finish first but misses his attempt at double 12 to complete a checkout from 80. MVG then spurns two darts to take out 16 only for his opponent to miss three more as a golden opportunity to get a set on the board goes begging. No mistake from the Dutchman at the next time of asking and he's now four sets to the good. Game over?
MVG 3-2 Smith

Leg Four
Another deciding leg will be required as MVG coolly takes out 84 on the bullseye under huge pressure, as Smith was waiting to come back on 20 following his superb visit of 118.
MVG 2-2 Smith

Leg Three
Smith is only averaging 95 at the moment but a sixth 180 puts him on his way to a 17-dart hold in a leg which MVG was well below his best and didn't have an attempt at a double.
MVG 1-2 Smith

Leg Two
MVG levels up the 180 count at 5-5 (I only mention this often for those who've bet on it!) and goes on to hold in 14 darts, with Smith waiting to come back on 85.
MVG 1-1 Smith

Leg One, Smith to throw first
In a leg which sees both players trade 180s in successive visits, it's the St Helens man who makes the most of his fifth maximum to take it in 14 darts and lead a set for the first time in the match.
MVG 0-1 Smith

SET THREE SCORE: Van Gerwen 3-1 Smith
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 3-0 Smith

Leg Four
Smith can't capitalise on his break in the previous leg as MVG responds with his third 180 to take command before pinning tops for a 14-darter. At this rate he'll threaten a total whitewash.
MVG 3-1 Smith

Leg Three
Bully Boy lands a fourth 180 with his first visit of a leg that MVG starts and a further score of 140 helps him on his way to a 15-dart break of throw which was finished off with a 66 checkout.
MVG 2-1 Smith

Leg Two
Smith needed to play like he did in his last two matches to stand a chance tonight but so far he's not. Despite having the throw in this leg, he's still left on 110 by the time MVG pins double eight for a 13-darter. The fact he leads the 180 count at 3-2 is of no consolation.
MVG 2-0 Smith

Leg One, MVG to throw first
A relatively comfortable - if not spectacular - hold for MVG as he maintains his momentum with an 18-darter although he had to hit double tops with his last dart in hand to prevent Smith having a chance from 112.
MVG 1-0 Smith

SECOND INTERVAL: MVG 2-0 Smith

Odds: Michael van Gerwen is 1/14 to triumph while Michael Smith is 7/1 to come from behind and win! Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

  • MVG: 106
  • Smith: 99

180s

  • MVG: 2
  • Smith: 3

Doubles

  • MVG: 6/12
  • Smith: 3/13

Highest Checkouts

  • MVG: 129
  • Smith: 90

SET TWO SCORE: Van Gerwen 3-1 Smith
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 2-0 Smith

Leg Four
Oh dear. Having throw his third 180, Smith goes on to miss his ninth and 10th darts at doubles in the match having carved himself a great opportunity to break the MVG throw. The Dutchman makes him pay, obviously, with a two-dart 68 checkout in what was a pretty sloppy leg overall.
MVG 3-1 Smith

Leg Three
Much better from the former World Youth Champion as he defies MVG's second 180 of the match to take out 86 for a 15-darter which keeps him alive in the set.
MVG 2-1 Smith

Leg Two
Yet another 100+ checkout for MVG as he takes out 126 on double 18 for a 15-dart hold, with Smith way back on 184. This is a great start from the world number one and the St Helens man can't afford to fall too far behind so early.
MVG 2-0 Smith

Leg One, Smith to throw first
Deflating for Smith as he narrowly misses bullseye for a 167 checkout, which would have completed a 12-darter, before spurning a further two darts at a double as MVG punishes him with a clinical finish from 80.
MVG 1-0 Smith

FIRST INTERVAL: MVG 1-0 Smith

Odds: Michael van Gerwen is 1/5 to win his third world title now while Michael Smith is 7/2 to claim his first! Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.

Averages

  • MVG: 108
  • Smith: 102

180s

  • MVG: 1
  • Smith: 2

Doubles

  • MVG: 3/8
  • Smith: 2/6

Highest Checkouts

  • MVG: 129
  • Smith: 90

SET ONE SCORE: Van Gerwen 3-2 Smith
MATCH SCORE: Van Gerwen 1-0 Smith

Leg Five
No mistake from MVG this time as he wins the deciding leg, which started with an opening visit of 177, by taking out 24 for a 14-darter, with Smith waiting to come back on 58. Van Gerwen has now won all the first sets he's played in this tournament and eight of the 12 deciding legs he's contested.
MVG 3-2 Smith

Leg Four
We're going all the way in this opening set as Smith once again punishes van Gerwen for a missed dart to win the set - this time at double tops - as he pins double three for a 14-darter.
MVG 2-2 Smith

Leg Three
The pair trade 180s at the start of this leg but it goes the way of Smith who takes out 90 on the bullseye for a 15-darter after spurned an attempt at double four.
MVG 2-1 Smith

Leg Two
Maximum machine Michael Smith fires his first of what will be many 180s tonight but he blows a dart at double for a 70 checkout as MVG returns to pin double 13 for a 13-dart break of throw.
MVG 2-0 Smith

Leg One, MVG to throw first
Wow, what a start! Michael van Gerwen edges ahead with a 15 darter which was completed by a 129 checkout on the bullseye!
MVG 1-0 Smith

2020: Michael Smith makes his way to the stage to the tune that will also be the soundtrack of his walk down the aisle on his wedding day on Saturday...if he wins tonight. Michael van Gerwen follows with a few boos but that's no surprise given who the crowd will mostly be supporting the St Helens man.

2015: If you'd rather take prediction advice off a top player rather than me, then look no further than Gary Anderson. "If Michael Smith goes up there and plays how he did on Sunday then we're going to have a new World Champion. I think Van Gerwen is in for a hard time if Smith plays his best game, both Nathan and Michael Smith were absolutely fantastic in their game. I wouldn't say Van Gerwen was brilliant in our game, he had a really easy night's work but I think he's up against it in the final."

Then again, he is the long-term mentor of Bully Boy so he was always going to say that!

2010: As we await the players to make their way out to stage, here's some suggested bets I picked out in my pre-final guide - which you can still read by clicking here.

  • Michael Smith to win at 3/1
  • Smith to win, hit over 15.5 180s & checkout over 131.5 at 6/1
  • Both players to hit 15+ 180's each & both players to checkout 125+ each at 6/1
  • For those who think MVG will win, MVG to win and Smith to hit most 180s at 15/8

All those bets can be found at Sky Bet by clicking here.

2005: Amazing to think Michael van Gerwen one headed to Alexandra Palace with doubts raised over his dominance despite winning 18 individual titles in 2018, including the Premier League, Masters and the World Grand Prix. To be fair it all stemmed from him 'failing' to win the UK Open Finals, World Matchplay, Champions League of Darts, Grand Slam of Darts, European Championship, World Series of Darts Finals and the Players Championship Finals - and that's quite a long list considering how many of those he usually keeps for himself!

The gap between him and the rest has seemed to close but it's only made him hungrier in his quest to win a third world title and pocket that incredible prize of £500,000.

Meanwhile, Michael Smith arrived here with a lot of expectations to prove he can fulfil his rich potential on the biggest stage having promised so much in his career so far.

The 28-year-old from St Helens, who claimed three PDC titles in 2018, has never won a major but came mightily close at the recent World Series of Darts Finals, where he missed match darts against James Wade. Will he be able to handle the pressure if the same situation comes his way tonight?

1955: Time to reflect on their head-to-head records - and particularly their meetings in 2018.

On paper nobody has a great record against Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith is no different. However their two televised meetings since the one-sided Premier League final should fill Bully Boy backers with hope. Not only did he defeat MVG en route to clinching his first senior televised title at the Shanghai Masters but he came agonisingly close to doing the same at the Grand Slam of Darts. He missed a dart at tops for a 160 checkout when trailing 9-8 and went on to lose 10-8.

For those interested, their other three meetings on television came in the 2016 Premier League (MVG winning 7-1), the 2016 Masters (MVG winning 10-3) and the 2015 Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals (MVG winning 16-6). But I personally don't think any of those have relevance now.

1930: For those of you who like darts statistics (who doesn't?), here's the crucial ones...

TOURNAMENT STATS (MVG first)

  • 3-dart Average: 103.72 - 101.19
  • 180s: 32 - 51
  • 100+ checkouts: 7 - 11
  • Highest checkout: 170 - 136
  • Checkout %: 46.25% (74/160) - 44.83% (78/174)
  • Sets won/lost: 22/5 - 22/8
  • Legs won/lost: 74/37 - 78/45
  • Legs won against throw: 28/54 - 29/60
  • Legs lost on own throw: 11/57 - 14/63

As you can see, Michael Smith isn't far off MVG at all and he bosses the 180s count and the 100+ checkouts although the latter is a little misleading considering he hit an incredible five in his last match. Very rarely have either lost their throw before now which is testament to how they've cruised through the rounds with the minimum of fuss overall.

Michael van Gerwen is favourite to defeat Michael Smith in the World Darts Championship final

1915: Now here's Michael van Gerwen's route to the final...

The beer throwing incident overshadowed his opening win but he still won pretty comfortably before routing Max Hopp and Adrian Lewis, neither of whom did too much wrong. Van Gerwen wasn't too impressed with his own display against debutant Ryan Joyce in the quarter-finals but it was plenty good enough to saunter through to set up what was meant to be the toughest of all matches with Gary Anderson. It was anything but.

Oh, and here's that 170 checkout he threw against Hopp in round three...

1905: Let's remind ourselves of both players' routes to the final. Starting with Michael Smith...

As you can see (or remember), he opened up with a lowish key start against Ron Meulenkamp which relied more on clinical finish rather than high scoring while he found himself in a spot of bother in round three when trailing John Henderson 2-1. But Bully Boy turned on the style to win nine of the next 10 legs to survive a scare and storm into the fourth round, where he brushed debutant Ryan Searle aside. Next up he thrashed rising star Luke Humphries with a blistering display but he upped his game further still against plucky underdog Nathan Aspinall as he fired in 17 180s - a record for a World Championship semi-final - averaged 105 and converted over 50% of his doubles. Those levels are needed again tonight.

1850: I wonder whether Michael Smith is feeling more nervous now, just over an hour before the biggest match of his life, than he will do on Saturday when he gets married to his fiancee Dagmara?! More to the point, I doubt he's pulled his weight with the last minute planning these past few weeks. He's also previously stated that if he wins he'll want to walk down the aisle with the Sid Waddell Trophy with his music playing.

1800: Don't forget there also happens to be, of course, the small matter of the 2019 Premier League Darts line-up announcement following the conclusion of the final, with 10 players earning selection.

This year is probably the toughest selection decision for the PDC and Sky Sports, with Raymond van Barneveld expected to make the cut despite his terrible 2018 due to this being his retirement year. Plus, he's obviously a crowd puller, especially for the nights in Rotterdam!

Click on the image below to check out all the dates and venues for the new season while we'll also be revealing the line-up after tonight's final.

Click on the image for all the Premier League Darts dates and venues for the 2019 season

1600: Welcome to our live coverage of tonight's PDC World Darts Championship final as the curtain comes down on what has been an enthralling tournament packed full of shocks, dramatic comebacks and underdog stories.

It's therefore slightly ironic that we have a final two that many could - and probably did - predict at the very beginning as world number one Michael van Gerwen takes on the man he defeated in the 2018 Premier League final.

MVG is hot favourite at 1/4 with Sky Bet to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy for the third time but don't rule out Michael Smith, who has produced some stunning darts to blaze his way through the bottom half of the draw with impressively high statistics to match.

You'll be able to find out who becomes the first world champion of 2019 with our live leg-by-leg blog later this evening but before the action gets under way at around 8pm, you can take a look through all the statistics, facts and head-to-head records I've compiled ahead of the final as well as all their routes to get here.

There's also some predictions thrown in but obviously having tipped Smith at 16/1 pre-tournament, I've got my fingers crossed he can finish the job against the odds. Why not have one more upset to fittingly end it all, eh?

Click on the image below (or here) for my full final preview while if you want to look back at all the World Championship results so far, click here!

Click on the image for a full preview including stats, head-to-head records and routes to the final

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