Michael van Gerwen was at his brilliant best in taking a record seventh Premier League Darts title on Thursday. Worryingly for his rivals, the Dutchman believes there could still be more to come.
“It feels amazing. I had to fight really hard today,” 'Mighty Mike' admitted to the PDC website. Van Gerwen came through a thrilling semi-final tie with Michael Smith 10-8 before comfortably dispatching Gerwyn Price in the final to seal the win. “It’s been a tough 16 weeks, but when you produce something like this in the Play-Offs, it gives you a lot of pleasure."
“I have peaked at the right moment – that is exactly what you have to do," continues van Gerwen who seems to have switched his attention in recent years from trying to send a message every week to just doing enough to reach finals night and peaking then. “I was slightly the underdog. Gerwyn Price is in fantastic form. Michael Smith had won three of the last four weeks, so people were questioning me, and it motivated me. Most importantly, I have won this tournament for a seventh time, and I am really pleased.”
His seventh title win now makes him the most successful Premier League player in history, surpassesing the great Phil Taylor. “It’s a great feeling [to break Taylor’s record], but for me, numbers are only numbers. It’s all about next year now, which is another one I could possibly win," he says. “I need to make sure now I get my focus going, because next week we have another important tournament, and that’s the World Series event in New York.”
“I’m not done yet. I love what I do, and there’s more to come," he concludes.
Michael van Gerwen is crowned Premier League champion for a record-breaking seventh time 🏆7️⃣ pic.twitter.com/0o3zAMk9VX
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) May 25, 2023