Darts results: Michael van Gerwen punishes Gerwyn Price for seven missed match darts to win night four of the Premier League

By Sporting Life

Darts

Fri February 24, 2023 · 2y ago

Michael van Gerwen won his first night of the Cazoo Premier League Darts season in Dublin - but only after Gerwyn Price missed seven match darts in the final.

The Welshman, who triumphed in Cardiff a fortnight ago, looked well on course to pick up all five points for the second time this season when storming into a 5-2 lead but was left stranded on 45 and 56 in the next two legs as MVG held his nerve to keep a gripping encounter alive at the 3Arena.

Van Gerwen then punished Price for missing two attempts at double 15 in the 10th leg to force a deciding leg in which they combined to spurn seven match darts before the Dutchman finally pinned his third.

The result sees Van Gerwen climb to the top of the table on 10 points ahead of Michael Smith on nine and Price on eight.

💪 Gerwyn Price was on the brink of winning his second night of the Premier League season.

😲 But seven missed match darts later, Michael van Gerwen picked up his first!pic.twitter.com/2j4RgNHyOT
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈🏀 (@SportingLifeFC) February 23, 2023

"Gezzy was phenomenal in the first two matches, and I was struggling all day," conceded Van Gerwen.

"I had to keep fighting and the most important thing is I won the night, which gives you confidence.

"You are playing against world-class players every week, but you need to believe in your own ability. I worked hard for this and to win in front of this crowd in Dublin, it feels amazing.

"I am not playing my top game at the moment. I know I can do a lot better, but to win and be top of the table without producing your best performance, that is a good thing.

"There is so much pressure on my shoulders, but I'm happy with the five points. I love what I do, and I just want to keep on winning."

The Premier League Darts table

The reigning Premier League champion kicked off Thursday's action with a 6-3 success against Chris Dobey, avenging his defeat to the Bedlington thrower in Belfast's Night One decider.

The Dutchman then defied a spirited rally from Jonny Clayton to prevail by the same 6-3 scoreline in the semi-finals, setting up a fascinating showdown against Night Two winner Price in the evening's showpiece.

Price was bidding to win his second Cazoo Premier League night of 2023 following his Night Two success in Cardiff, and he continued his strong start to this year's roadshow to claim a valuable three points.

The 2021 World Champion produced a magnificent display to defeat Night Three runner-up Dimitri Van den Bergh in his quarter-final tie, averaging 104 and landing five 180s to wrap up a 6-4 win.

Price then recorded another ton-topping average in his semi-final demolition of Night Three winner Smith, averaging 102 to dispatch the World Champion 6-1.

Earlier in the night, Smith had fought back from 4-2 down to prolong Peter Wright’s winless run in this year’s competition, closing out victory in a dramatic last-leg shoot-out.

Nathan Aspinall was the night's other quarter-final loser, succumbing 6-4 to Clayton in a topsy-turvy tussle, which saw the Stockport star miss 23 darts at a double.