Showing incredible form like his final opponent on the ProTour earlier this week despite losing to Wessel Nijman in the second final, Gerwyn Price has brought that level to Antwerp as 'The Iceman' is the Week Two winner in the Premier League.
He eased past Michael van Gerwen 6-3 in the final averaging 104 and for most of the final few legs, he was averaging 115. Albeit of course given he has won a title and reached the final, MVG leaves Belgium top of the
Premier League Darts pile.
But Price saw off Van Veen, Clayton and MVG. The former two with 6-5 wins as he had close shaves but won with quality when he needed. A great start to the year for both.
Price missed chances on 80 for a hold but with MVG way back he hit double four for 1-0 in the final for an early break. A 78 checkout and a roar for Price as he went 2-0 up holding throw as MVG looked out of sorts in the early going.
A 78 checkout and a roar for Price as he goes 2-0 up holding throw as MVG looked out of sorts in the early going. Under real pressure, Van Gerwen smashed in a 167 checkout all nonchalant as he walked back without a celebration as he held throw for 2-1.
Price missed 100 for 3-1 and Van Gerwen smashed in a 160 checkout to break throw. A 180 to leave 82 for Price and Van Gerwen couldn't pin 90. Price returned for 82 and broke for 3-2.
Price didn't go two double 20's on 134 and he let MVG back for 160. MVG couldn't get near it this time and Price hit double 10 for 4-2.
Price missed double 12 for 84 and Van Gerwen took aim at 75. He missed double 20 and Price returned for double six for 5-2. Price could not get the treble on 108. He gave MVG a shot at 74 and Price returned for 56 only to miss two for the match. MVG returned for double four for 5-3.
Gerwyn Price reigns supreme in Antwerp.
Semi-Finals - Van Gerwen takes down Littler as Price weathers Clayton battle
In the opening semi-final, Michael van Gerwen edged through in a battle that could be best characterised by the amounts of breaks of throw that were on offer as he saw off Luke Littler.
Van Gerwen broke early with Littler unable to hit 120 and Van Gerwen swept up for 1-0. Van Gerwen missed 110 and Littler cleaned up 52 to break back. Littler held throw with a 107 checkout to make it 2-1.
32 pinned by MVG to seal parity at 2-2. Van Gerwen broke back after Littler couldn't hold throw. He was throwing for a 4-2 lead. Despite starting with a 180, Littler pinned 74 after MVG missed 62 for the leg making it 3-3. Van Gerwen broke again pinning 74 himself for 4-3. Van Gerwen missed 140 for the lead again and Littler made it 4-4. Van Gerwen hit a 180 to leave 68 but missed darts to go 5-4 up but Littler faltered again and Van Gerwen slipped through. After a break fest, Van Gerwen held finally. He hit double 16 to make it 6-4.
While Gerwyn Price edged through the all Welsh battle with Jonny Clayton. With Clayton sat on 81, Price pinned 57 for 1-1. Clayton went 2-1 up pinning 103 with Price sat waiting to break. Clayton held again on double 20 after he hit a 180 to leave it handy. It was 3-2. A break followed for Price to make it 4-3. Clayton broke back to go one away en route to a 5-4 lead but Price edged through in the decider.
Quarter-Finals - Littler takes down Humphries
Prior to that final being confirmed, Luke Littler got off the mark in this year's Premier League after he was beaten in the opening game last week. He lost to Gian van Veen in Newcastle but perhaps he was fortunate this week to even win a game.
Luke Humphries spurned a 4-1 lead in the opening match of the night after Littler broke to go 2-1 down early on, Humphries hit 180 to leave 66 and it saw him pounce after Littler couldn't pin 67 and he was 3-1 up. He held from there as Littler spurned 101 and Humphries returned for 4-1.
But Littler broke with Humphries unable to pin 103 and he was 4-3 down and had been handed chance after chance in the next leg to hold. He took those as Humphries was first to a finish on 77 but he missed two chances and Littler was back for parity. Humphries went one away but Littler made it 5-5 levelling up and Humphries then had the throw.
Littler missed 81 for the win and after a 140 to leave double 20, Humphries had a golden chance to seal the win and spurned it allowing Littler to fall over the line.
| 105.16 |
Average (3 Darts) |
102.37 |
| 16 |
100+ Thrown |
14 |
| 7 |
140+ Thrown |
8 |
| 7 |
180 Thrown |
7 |
| 41 |
Highest Checkout |
103 |
| 0 |
Checkout 100+ |
1 |
| 35.3 |
Checkout percentage |
22.7 |
| 6 / 17 |
Checkout |
5 / 22 |
He faced Michael van Gerwen who eased past Josh Rock who suffers back-to-back defeats in his Premier League debut year. Van Gerwen broke early hitting double four for 2-1. Rock missed dart after dart to hold and Van Gerwen picked his pocket for 4-1 to surge ahead. Van Gerwen went one away and although he missed match darts, he had the throw next time out and sealed it.
Albeit perhaps the main story of the Quarter-Finals saw Jonny Clayton come from 4-1 down to defeat Stephen Bunting winning five legs on the spin.
Bunting surged ahead but Clayton broke with a 60 for 4-1. He was suddenly 4-3 behind. But Bunting was broken again with Bunting missing 104. The Ferret pinned double 20 to go one away. He claimed it with a 124 checkout.
Then it was the turn of Price v Van Veen finally before the semi-finals which was anything but close. Van Veen went 4-2 up in the early going but Price broke with a 69 checkout for parity. He then had the throw at 5-4. But Van Veen missed 64 to break back and Price was one away. With Price sat on double 20, Van Veen held for 5-5. But despite missing 83, Van Veen returned for 84 only to miss that himself and Price returned to seal the deal.