Michael van Gerwen wins Dutch Darts Masters after crazy final against Luke Littler: ‘Everything went well’
With videoMichael van Gerwen won the Dutch Darts Masters on Saturday night. He beat teenager Luke Littler (17) 8-6 in a brilliant final. Earlier in the evening he had already won with compatriots Raymond van Barneveld and Gian van Veen.
Van Gerwen happily replied in front of the camera: “Today I did everything I didn’t do last week. Everything went well. Every time I had to push him in the final, I did. I dropped the endings at the right times and then you can hurt someone. Every time I had to hit, I did.”
Van Gerwen and Littler also met a week and a half ago at the Bahrain Masters. Then the 17-year-old Briton won the final 8-5. Our compatriot was eager for revenge in “his” Den Bosch.
Mighty Mike he wanted to win the tournament for an additional reason: the trophy named after his darts friend Toon Greebe, who died more than three months ago: the Toon Greebe Trophy.
PDC darts
@OfficialPDC
The level of both men in the final was extremely high. The three-pointers were easily found and also in the double minimal opportunities were left unused. Van Gerwen went into the break with a 4-3 lead, continued to play superbly thereafter and eventually won 8-6.
The Nuke he achieved an excellent average of 106.71 and a completion rate of almost 43 per cent, but this was not enough for another victory in the tournament. Van Gerwen averaged 100.59 and was 67 percent on his doubles.
In front of the camera Viaplay Van Gerwen replied: “I did everything I didn’t do last week. Everything went well. Every time I had to push him in the final, I did. I dropped the endings at the right times and then you can hurt someone. Every time I had to hit, I did. To win like that is very satisfying.”
It is the sixth time for Van Gerwen to win the Dutch Darts Masters. He previously did it five times in a row from 2014 to 2018.
Route to the final
Van Gerwen previously beat Gian van Veen 7-4 in the semi-finals. In the quarterfinals he had already beaten Raymond van Barneveld 6-5. Barney took a 2-5 lead, but ultimately fell short of the win. Mighty Mike he averaged 101.15 and was 60 percent on his doubles. Van Barneveld achieved an average of 97.91 and a completion rate of 62.5%.
Results
Quarterfinals
• Luke Littler – Luke Humphries 6-5
• Gerwyn Price – Kevin Doets 6-3
• Michael van Gerwen – Raymond van Barneveld 6-5
• Gian van Veen – Danny Noppert 6-3
Semifinals
• Littler-Price 7-4
• Van Gerwen – Van Veen 7-4
Final
• Littler – Van Gerwen 6-8
23:12
Yesterday
Van Gerwen wins
23:10
Yesterday
Littler has been released and is going through a 180’er, 140’er and a 105 in D10. He misses two arrows before the break and Van Gerwen doesn’t miss: 7-6. Van Gerwen on the match point now.
23:07
Yesterday
Our compatriot does not go easy on his own legs, but again he is helped by the score of 180 and a missed arrow from Littler in the bulls-eye: 6-5.
23:04
Yesterday
Van Gerwen and Littler keep their legs: 5-4. Mighty Mike it still needs three legs.
22:57
Yesterday
It’s time for the break, because seven legs have been played. Van Gerwen dives with one 4-3 leads to the entrance area.
Littler averages over 105, Van Gerwen is around 97.
22:54
Yesterday
The standard is high in this final. Littler is finding three-pointers very easily again, but Van Gerwen is not much inferior to his opponent. 3-3 now.
22:52
Yesterday
And there is the re-break. His first arrow hits the mark and evens the score: 2-2.
22:51
Yesterday
Littler breaks Van Gerwen and has now won two matches in a row: 1-2.
22:47
Yesterday
There’s the lead for Van Gerwen: 1-0! Good start for the Dutchman.
22:47
Yesterday
The finals have begun
Van Gerwen is looking forward to winning this award because the cup is named after his darts friend Toon Greebe, who died more than three months ago: the Toon Greebe Trophy. Mighty Mike started the final.
22:44
Yesterday
Littler enters the stage to considerable boos and whistles. Van Gerwen is already there. We are about to start in Den Bosch.
10:40 p.m
Yesterday
Van Gerwen and Littler also met a week and a half ago at the Bahrain Masters. Then the 17-year-old Briton won the final 8-5.
22:26
Yesterday
In about ten minutes we will start the final with Littler and Van Gerwen. The first to grab 8 feet wins in Den Bosch.
22:19
Yesterday
Final for Van Gerwen
Van Gerwen turns a 3-2 deficit into one 4-7 win. He will soon meet Littler in the final!
22:16
Yesterday
The third break in a row is a fact. Van Gerwen first sees Van Veen catch up, but then ups his game: 4-5.
22:08
Yesterday
Van Gerwen holds his own leg and breaks his opponent, so he goes into the break with a 3-4 head Start.
22:03
Yesterday
Now it’s Van Veen who gets two legs in a row: 3-2.
21:59
Yesterday
Van Gerwen has already lost nine darts in a double, but he’s still standing: 1-2. He’s taking a break.
21:57
Yesterday
The necessary misses in the first two legs of the match. It is upright 1-1.
21:52
Yesterday
Van Veen vs. Van Gerwen
The men are in the pocket and have started their semi-final.
Read also
• See the 2024 darts calendar here
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which may!
Log in or create an account and never miss any of the stars.
