Mardle praises Van Gerwen after fifth Premier League title win: 'He's a special talent and the sport's lucky to have him'

Michael van Gerwen claimed a fifth Premier League title on Thursday night seeing off Rob Cross in a 11-5 win and Wayne Mardle lauded praise on the Dutchman following his win.

Mardle called Van Gerwen a special talent and admitted in reality the sport is lucky to have him. He added that after Taylor he is almost the new incarnation we never thought we'd get. "You just expect him to achieve all the time. He's a special talent and the sport's lucky to have him," Mardle told Sky Sports' Dave Clark during Thursday's broadcast. "When he had that chance to win it, he wants 130 - pop, pop, pop he gets it. He puts things away, he knows how to win and what he does do better than anyone else on the planet - he seizes his opportunities where maybe there isn't one. "He creates one and he gets it done. A lot of players will get there and somehow stumble over the line. He's not a stumbler, that man's a finisher. "After Phil Taylor, we probably thought we'd never see the like again. He's a champion of the people as well," he added. Van Gerwen is in action this weekend at the Dutch Darts Masters and y