European Darts Matchplay: Michael van Gerwen beats Mensur Suljovic to win his seventh individual title of the season

Click here for full results from the European Darts Matchplay

The world number one, who teamed up with Raymond van Barneveld last week to lift the World Cup of Darts for the Netherlands, was rarely troubled in Hamburg having brushed aside John Henderson, Mervyn King, Peter Huden and Michael Smith en route to the final. 

Van Gerwen averaged 102.08 against Suljovic and hit four 180s but it was his clinical finishing which proved crucial as he nailed six of his 10 attempts at doubles. 

One of those came in the first leg as he checked out 136 while he finished the job on tops to take out 75 and get his hands on the trophy for second time having won the inaugural edition in 2015.

Suljovic averaged 106.26 in a superb performance that included a checkout of 164 in the eighth leg to thrill the crowd at the edel-optics.de Arena but he'll rue his six missed darts at doubles.

The Austrian third seed defeated Daryl Gurney (6-5), Dave Chisnall (6-3) and Cristo Reyes (6-3) earlier in the day to reach his second successive European Tour final having also finished runner-up to Smith at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy in May.

But not even this fine display was enough to thwart MVG, who pockets the top prize of £25,000 and his second European Tour title of the season.

He told the official PDC website: "To win tournaments like this takes a lot of energy, and I am really pleased I have managed to do it again.

"I come here to win, I am the huge favourite entering these tournaments and second will not do. I've won, and that makes me a very happy man.

"I want to win as many tournaments as possible. It was a great game, and I am sure everyone in here enjoyed themselves. I'm a very proud man.

"Mensur admitted to me after the game that he deliberately slowed down to try and put me off.

"It was big of him to admit that, but Germany and Austria can be very proud of this man - he is a phenomenal player and will win many more things." 

Van Gerwen is now one behind Peter Wright's individual season tally of eight titles and he'll be looking to get himself back on level terms - or even surpass Snakebite - at next weekend's Players Championship events. 

Mighty Mike's ruthless finishing was also on the mark against Smith in the semi-finals as he hit six of his nine attempts to make up for a below-par average - for him - of 99.73.

Peter Hudson took the most legs off him this weekend with four during their quarter-final meeting - in which MVG averaged 106.1 - although three of those came when he was 5-1 as he threated a highly unlikely comeback.

Sunday Afternoon round-up

Peter Wright crashed out of the European Darts Matchplay in the third round after losing a deciding leg against Cristo Reyes.

Snakebite, who has won three European Tour events this season, averaged over 102, hit four 180s and managed a superb 110 checkout to go 5-4 up but his Spanish opponent took the final two legs to progress to the quarter-finals.

Reyes was at the top of his game as he fired seven maximums to lift his average up to an impressive 103.24 while hit six of his 14 attempts on a double.

There were no such problems for top seed Michael van Gerwen as he defeated Mervyn King 6-3 to set up a clash with Peter Hudson, who continued his fine run with a 6-3 victory over Alan Norris.

Mensur Suljovic and Dave Chisnall both came through final-leg deciders against Daryl Gurney and Ian White respectively and they'll meet in the quarter-finals.

Stephen Bunting followed up his fine win over Jelle Klaasen on Saturday evening by defeating Kyle Anderson, who had knocked out defending champion James Wade 24 hours earlier.

Michael Smith won the last European Tour event in Gibraltar and he'll be confident of making it two in a row after a fine 6-2 triumph over Andy Hamilton.

He will play Joe Cullen next following his 6-4 win over Vincent van der Voort.

European Darts Matchplay: Tournament results

Friday June 9
Afternoon Session
Peter Hudson 6-1 Brendan Dolan
Richard North 6-1 Mickey Mansell
Krzysztof Ratajski 4-6 Justin Pipe
Andy Hamilton 6-5 Martin Schindler
Lee Bryant 4-6 James Wilson
Marko Kantele 6-5 Antonio Alcinas
Mike de Decker 6-2 Max Hopp
Andy Jenkins 4-6 Jimmy Hendriks

Friday June 9 
Evening Session
Chris Quantock 3-6 Nathan Aspinall
Darren Webster 3-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode
John Henderson 6-4 Mike Holz
Peter Jacques 6-5 Chris Dobey
Kenny Neyens 3-6 Stephen Bunting
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 Adrian Lewis
Erik Tautfest 5-6 John Michael
Kyle Anderson 6-5 Christian Kist
Click here for Friday review

Saturday June 10
Afternoon Session
Second Round
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Jimmy Hendriks
Alan Norris 6-3 Marko Kantel
Mervyn King 6-3 Richard North
Michael Smith 6-1 Mike de Decker
Cristo Reyes 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
Kim Huybrechts 5-6 Peter Hudson
Ian White 6-3 Peter Jacques
Joe Cullen 6-2 Justin Pipe

Evening Session
Second Round
Simon Whitlock 1-6 Andy Hamilton
Dave Chisnall 6-4 James Wilson
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Dirk van Duijvenbode
James Wade 2-6 Kyle Anderson
Jelle Klaasen 2-6 Stephen Bunting
Peter Wright 6-0 John Michael
Benito van de Pas 5-6 Vincent van der Voort
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 John Henderson
Click here for Saturday review 

Sunday June 11
Afternoon Session
Third round
Mensur Suljovic 6-5 Daryl Gurney
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Ian White
Stephen Bunting 6-3 Kyle Anderson
Peter Wright 5-6 Cristo Reyes
Andy Hamilton 2-6 Michael Smith
Vincent van der Voort 4-6 Joe Cullen
Peter Hudson 6-3 Alan Norris
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Mervyn King

Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Mensur Suljovic 6-3 Dave Chisnall
Cristo Reyes 6-3 Stephen Bunting 
Michael Smith 6-2 Joe Cullen
Peter Hudson 4-6 Michael van Gerwen 

Semi-Finals
Mensur Suljovic 6-3 Cristo Reyes
Michael Smith 3-6 Michael van Gerwen

Final
Mensur Suljovic 3-6 Michael van Gerwen