Van Gerwen claims third PDC World Darts Championship title with win over Smith

Michael van Gerwen is World Champion for a third time after a win over Michael Smith as he joins an illustrious group of players to claim this number of titles.

In a game that was billed as a potential upset, Van Gerwen dispelled that with a ruthless display pouncing on missed doubles and poor scoring at the times where it counts from his opponent at the start.
Despite that though Van Gerwen wasn’t out of the woods despite going 4-0 up. Smith claimed two quick fire sets and another when Van Gerwen was on the brink to always make the contest interesting.
It was Van Gerwen though who despite making hard work of it who became the champion of the world again.
He went 4-0 up in double quick time with the sets close but ultimately MVG was just too good.
Smith finally claimed a set with his back up against the wall he pinned a 124 checkout in a deciding leg with Van Gerwen sitting on a finish.
He doubled this with a brilliant set where he clean sweeped the World Number One; but when it looked like he was finally heading back into proceedings, Van Gerwen started to play well again and Smith poorly allowing MVG to win the next set 3-1 and go 5-2 up.
Smith continued to play poorly in the next set at times but missed a 170 checkout; as well as double ten and double five to close out the set and under pressure Van Gerwen hit the winning double to go one set away.
Smith looked beaten in the following set but still hit a brilliant double double finish with double 20 and double 10; he made things interesting with a hold of throw with a 72 checkout.
There was tension between the pair; with Smith made sure that Van Gerwen had to wait for another world title.
It was the tale of missed doubles in the next set and as a result, Van Gerwen once again once again went to the brink at two-up.
Click here for more information about the PDC World Darts Championship, including schedules and the prize fund breakdown.
2019 PDC World Darts Championship
FINAL -
Michael van Gerwen (102.21) 7-3 (95.29) Michael Smith (3-2, 3-1, 3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 0-3, 3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1)
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