The Premier League darts reached its apotheosis on Monday after four months. The top four of the competition could compete for the trophy in front of a packed Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin: Jonny Clayton, James Wade, Michael van Gerwen and Joe Cullen. Dimitri Van den Bergh, 5th last year, did not participate in the tournament this year.
A dominant Cullen had no pity in his semi-final for defending champion and bosom friend Clayton, who received solid 10-4 figures. The other semi-final between Van Gerwen and Wade also turned out to be one without too much tension: MVG again advanced 10-4 to its 8th Premier League final.
Van Gerwen started the best in that final. The Dutchman was the first to go through his opponent’s pitch, leading 3-1. But Cullen, who has been storming darts this season with, among other things, a win at the Masters, resisted and fought back in the game.
Until 9-9, both players seemed evenly matched, but just then Cullen’s scoring ability faltered. Van Gerwen was able to break and throw for the match, but with the trophy in sight, MVG suddenly couldn’t find a triple. Cullen hit back, a deciding leg – which Cullen got to start – had to make the decision.
With decent scores, Cullen seemed to have Van Gerwen’s back against the wall. “The Rockstar” was able to finish it with one arrow at a score of 32, but missed the double 16. An opportunity that Van Gerwen never gave up: he finished it on double 14.
Van Gerwen thus wins the Premier League darts for the sixth time, the most important tournament after the World Cup, and thus equals darts legend Phil Taylor. The Dutchman thus concludes a difficult period, as his last major victory already dated from one and a half years ago with the Players Championship Finals.
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