Michael van Gerwen is the World Matchplay champion for a third time after defeating Gerwyn Price 18-14 in a memorable final in Blackpool.
The 2015 and 2016 champion defied the usual saying of 'trebles for show, doubles for dough' as he hit an astonishing 15 180s and missed an alarming 34 darts at doubles during a dramatic victory at the Winter Gardens.
Van Gerwen, who was underdog thanks largely to the world number one's incredible form en route to his maiden Winter Gardens final, twice trailed by four legs at 4-0 and 9-5 down when he could hardly buy a double but Price's fortune and ability to capitalise under pressure eventually ran out in the closing stages.
A truly astonishing comeback from Michael van Gerwen. Twice he was four legs down when he couldn't buy a double but then wins 13 of the last 18 legs to win his third World Matchplay.pic.twitter.com/lJGUGNUr2i
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) July 24, 2022
The Dutchman then rattled off 13 of the next 18 legs - including checkouts of 114 and 121 in the last two - to get his hands on the Phil Taylor Trophy and a cheque for £200,000.
Van Gerwen averaged 101.19 compared to Price's 96.92 and fired in a match high checkout of 160 in the seventh leg while he'd also come agonisingly close to a perfect leg at 4-0 down when his attempt at double 12 missed inside.
🏆 2015
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) July 24, 2022
🏆 2016
🏆 2022
👏 Michael van Gerwen wins a blockbuster final with Gerwyn Price to win his third World Matchplay title!pic.twitter.com/mttFBgIh2O
This success continues a remarkable revival for van Gerwen, who has now won seven titles this year following two seasons of struggles, while he arrived in Blackpool having played only one match since his Premier League final victory over Joe Cullen due to surgery on his throwing arm.
“To put my hands on this trophy again means the world to me,” reflected an emotional Van Gerwen after his 43rd major title in his 55th final. "I’ve come through a very difficult patch in my career. To come back and beat a player of Gerwyn’s quality means a lot to me. I am really proud.
“There was drama in the final, phenomenal darts, big scoring, great finishing. You cannot imagine how happy I am.
“The good times are coming again, I feel it. It’s the first time we’ve played a final on Sky Sports, and to win feels incredible.
“I hope we can have a lot more battles like this. I think before this tournament a final would have been a dream for me, because I’ve been going through a tough period."
Great sportsmanship between two great rivals.
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) July 24, 2022
"We're gonna clear the field."pic.twitter.com/HLPCvh1W4q
Price pocketed £100,000 as runner-up following a superb campaign, which included a nine-darter in his semi-final success against Danny Noppert on Saturday night, and also reclaims the world number one spot from Peter Wright.
The 37-year-old said: "I was fortunate to be 9-6 up. Michael is a fantastic player and once he gets on a roll like that, it’s hard to contain him.
“I didn’t have a purple patch which I needed in this game, and I think Michael had it all game!
“Michael was fantastic. He’s a deserving winner. He is a great player and a great friend.
“I am definitely proud of myself, especially with the way I’ve been playing in the last couple of months. It just didn’t happen for me today.”
🤯👏 Michael van Gerwen
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) July 24, 2022
🏆3️⃣ World Championship
🏆3️⃣ World Matchplay
🏆6️⃣ Premier League
🏆5️⃣ World Grand Prix
🏆3️⃣ Grand Slam
🏆3️⃣ UK Open
🏆4️⃣ European Championship
🏆6️⃣ Players Championship Finals
🏆5️⃣ Masters
🏆4️⃣ World Series of Darts Finals
🏆1️⃣ Champions League pic.twitter.com/FNfp1m253U
Averages
180s
Doubles
100+ Checkouts
VAN GERWEN IS THE WORLD MATCHPLAY CHAMPION! 🏆🏆🏆
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
Michael van Gerwen becomes a three-time @Betfred World Matchplay champion, clinching the title with a majestic 121 finish to close out an 18-14 win over Gerwyn Price in a magnificent final!
The three-peat. pic.twitter.com/eNHewJGbz3
ONE. MORE. LEG.
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
WOW WOW WOW!
MvG takes out a big 114 finish to move to within a leg of the title!
It's now or never for Price here...#WMDarts | Final
📺 https://t.co/eJJXK4DqqY pic.twitter.com/EzY5L8fIA4
Sky Bet latest odds: The bookies can hardly split the pair now, with Gerwyn Price i4/5 and Michael van Gerwen 10/11!. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
Highest Checkouts
RIDING HIS LUCK!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
Oh how he enjoyed that one!
Van Gerwen squanders massive break opportunities to let Price back to crucially hold his throw to maintain his slender advantage in this!#WMDarts | Final
📺 https://t.co/eJJXK4DqqY pic.twitter.com/VrAwE5Pqr1
WE'RE LEVEL!!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
WHAT A FINAL THIS IS! 🔥
Van Gerwen has won four of the last five legs as he draws level at 12-12!#WMDarts | Final
📺 https://t.co/eJJXK4DqqY pic.twitter.com/CNOhvMDI34
Sky Bet latest odds: Gerwyn Price remains favourite at 4/7 favourite, with Michael van Gerwen available at 5/4. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
Highest Checkouts
CLINICAL FROM MvG!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
A brilliant mini-session from Van Gerwen who is now averaging over 105 but Price's break of throw advantage still proving the difference in this final!#WMDarts | Final
📺 https://t.co/eJJXK4DqqY pic.twitter.com/GIvVID77iS
Sky Bet latest odds: Gerwyn Price is now 4/7 favourite, with Michael van Gerwen available at 5/4. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
Highest Checkouts
STILL IN THIS!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
Van Gerwen is currently averaging over 104 but finds himself trailing Price!
Doubles proving the difference here as Price heads into the break leading 9-6...#WMDarts | Final
📺 https://t.co/eJJXK4DqqY pic.twitter.com/222TfOB1Jt
BULLSEYE!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
How did he squeeze that in?!
Van Gerwen pins the bull for a 12-dart hold and once again he's within two of Price...#WMDarts | Final
📺 https://t.co/eJJXK4DqqY pic.twitter.com/gAwMF1fo2o
Sky Bet latest odds: Gerwyn Price is now 4/7 favourite, with Michael van Gerwen available at 5/4. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
Highest Checkouts
160 FINISH!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
This final is already living up to the expectations as Van Gerwen takes out a HUGE 160 checkout and we're back on throw!#WMDarts | Final
📺 https://t.co/eJJXK4DqqY pic.twitter.com/vqOufHwlRD
Sky Bet latest odds: Gerwyn Price is now 3/10 favourite to win his first World Matchplay while Michael van Gerwen is 12/5 to come from behind and lift the trophy for a third time. Still a long way to go. Click here now for all the Sky Bet live darts markets including most 180s & highest checkout.
Averages
180s
Doubles
Highest Checkouts
EIGHT PERFECT DARTS 🤏
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
Van Gerwen wires D12 for a perfect leg but all he'll care about is that he's finally on the board in this final!
MvG heads into the break trailing Price 4-1...#WMDarts | Final
📺 https://t.co/eJJXK4DqqY pic.twitter.com/wSoZ260mgW
WHAT A START FOR PRICE!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
Gerwyn Price races into a four-nil lead in this final with Van Gerwen already missing eight darts at doubles!#WMDarts | Final
📺 https://t.co/eJJXK4DqqY pic.twitter.com/d1L8dyCWro
2115: The players are now making their way out to the stage so let the drama begin...
BLACKPOOL IS ROCKING! 🟢🧊#WMDarts pic.twitter.com/YsrIHu2c6t
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) July 24, 2022
2110: Anyone who followed my woeful pre-tournament betting tips - in which Jonny Clayton, Damon Heta and Michael Smith all fell early on - may not want to listen to my predictions for tonight.
You still have time to skim read my final preview by clicking here, but to save you time I've gone for an 18-13 scoreline in Price's favour and have also picked out these three tips.
2105: As for the chances of a nine-darter tonight, you can get 10/1 with Sky Bet on either player managing it - or 250/1 that they both do - but if you want to be more specific, MVG is 16/1 and Price is also 16/1.
2100: With time running out before the final, let's quickly run through the overall tournament stats...
Gerwyn Price's statistics really show an improvement on what he's done this season as a whole and he put this revitalised form down to some constructive rest in recent weeks following such a hectic period of the season when the Premier League season was in full swing, and also the confidence gained from getting over the line in tight matches.
Michael van Gerwen's lacklustre opener against Adrian Lewis is the one of the key reasons why his tournament stats are significantly lower than Price's but he hasn't quite reached the blockbusting levels of his past. Yet.
Price bosses all the key stats, including his phenomenal checkout percentage, and that's one of the main reasons he heads into this clash as a very worthy favourite. Some may even say he's too big at 4/6 which is remarkable when you think Michael van Gerwen has never been underdog in a TV final since around 2014 when Phil Taylor was still going strong.
2050: Now it's Gerwyn Price's route to the final...
ROUTE TO THE FINAL...
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
Here's how Gerwyn Price booked his place in his very first @Betfred World Matchplay final
Will he be lifting the Phil Taylor trophy tonight? pic.twitter.com/LEdQ7e7rUd
The pre-Blackpool question marks surrounding Gerwyn Price were all about his relatively poor form compared to the Iceman of old. But he used all his battling qualities to get through a very awkward opening contest against Martin Schindler with an average of almost 100 and it was a similar story when overcoming the in-form crowd favourite Dave Chisnall.
Since then he's raised the bar with a pair of 100+ averages against Jose de Sousa and Danny Noppert, who he blew away with the help of his fourth televised nine-darter of 2022! On what we've seen so far, it really looks like the world number one is reaching his relentless peak levels once again.
Unsurprisingly Gerwyn Price is the first player to throw four televised nine-darters in one year - and it's still only July.
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) July 23, 2022
Phil Taylor (2007 & 2010), Barney (2009 & 2010), Adrian Lewis (2011) and MVG (2012) all managed to do it twice in a single year.pic.twitter.com/yebp4CEStp
🔝🎯 Gerwyn Price hadn't hit one nine-darter before 2022 and now he's got FOUR! That's two more than anyone else has ever managed in a single year! pic.twitter.com/RXFArQNxQi
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC) July 23, 2022
2040: So how did both players reach the World Matchplay final? Let's start with Michael van Gerwen...
There were doubts surrounding his match fitness due to a lack of recent action since surgery on his injured arm after the Premier League final and he certainly got off to a lacklustre start against Adrian Lewis in a tie that didn't live up to the billing.
After easing past a mediocre Joe Cullen, he played much better against Nathan Aspinall and his average could have been higher had he not stumbled over the line having earlier been way out in front with healthier stats.
MVG's finishing let him down a bit in an otherwise very solid display against Dimitri Van den Bergh, who wasn't at the same level that he displayed in beating Peter Wright, so he knows there's plenty of room for improvement. Is he ready to reach it and sustain it throughout what could be a very lengthy contest?
ROUTE TO THE FINAL...
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 24, 2022
Will it be a third World Matchplay crown for Michael van Gerwen?
Here's how he made his way to the 2022 final - the fourth of his career... pic.twitter.com/umYeztFB3o
2030: Right, let's kick things off the head-to-head record between the pair. Michael van Gerwen won 18 of their first 19 meetings - which included a draw - but since then it couldn't be much tighter with seven wins apiece.
Gerwyn Price hasn't actually beaten him in a televised final but this year he won three of their five meetings, including the time he averaged 108 and fired in a nine-dart finish during that glorious Premier League night in Belfast.
I do not believe this. A SECOND nine-darter in one night from Gerwyn Price, who started the evening with a 170 checkout!
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) February 17, 2022
Absolute scenes in Belfast.pic.twitter.com/S4X2KIn1Jo
If we compare the trophy cabinets, then there really is one winner and unfortunately for Gerwyn Price, the rising standards of those below the pair in the rankings means it's going to be nigh on impossible to ever get close to Michael van Gerwen's tally.
2020: Good evening and welcome to our live blog of the Betfred World Matchplay final, as these two great rivals collide for the second biggest major in darts at the iconic Winter Gardens.
Michael van Gerwen is bidding to become the second most successful player in the tournament's 29-year history behind Phil Taylor by winning a third title in Blackpool - and first since 2016 - while world number one Gerwyn Price is chasing his maiden success here.
That would put him in an elite club of players who have won both the World Championship and World Matchplay; Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright, Rob Cross and Gary Anderson.
The final begins at around 2120 BST so between now and then we'll run through the routes to the final, tournament statistics, head-to-head records and some predictions.
Before we get into the present, here is quick look at the previous finals in the tournament history...
World Matchplay Most Titles