Van Gerwen seals fifth European Darts Open title, third European Tour of 2022 with Van den Bergh final win

Michael van Gerwen has added yet another European Tour title as he continues his dominance so far in 2022 with the European Darts Open in Leverkusen going his way.

It is a third of the year after he sealed victories in Hildesheim and Graz and just like old times on the European Tour, it was a tournament where players had their chances but were punished royally as Van Gerwen romps to yet another crown and his fifth overall in this tournament.

In doing so, he saw off Dimitri van den Bergh 8-5 with a 102.5 average who was suddenly thrust into his first European Tour final after James Wade's late withdrawal from the semi-finals but couldn't deny the Green Machine.

A 180 and double 18 saw Van den Bergh seal an opening break to go 1-0 up. But immediately MVG hit back on double 20 to break back.

Van Gerwen corrected an error to hit 74 to go 2-1 up and followed it up with a 91 checkout for an 11-darter to make it 3-1 and break.

Van Gerwen missed 54 to hold and Van den Bergh hit back with an 83 checkout to break back to make it 3-2. A 180 and double 20 saw Van den Bergh seal parity at 3-3.

A 164 checkout saw Van Gerwen regain the lead at 4-3 albeit only a hold. An 80 checkout with Van Gerwen waiting on 68 saw Van den Bergh hold at 4-4.

But as Van den Bergh aimed to slow the pace, Van Gerwen hit back to back 180’s to begin his throw as he looked to lead once more which he sealed at 5-4.

Van den Bergh’s trebles continued to dry up and Van Gerwen hit back-to-back 180’s en route to a break on double four to make it 6-4.

A 180 was pinned by Van den Bergh but he missed a 121 checkout on the bull to break back. He received another chance and busted his score on 25 but Van Gerwen chased round the board and Van den Bergh finally broke on double eight to make it 6-5.

Van den Bergh hit a 180 after a poor opener but Van Gerwen replied to gain initiative. Van den Bergh wasn’t on a finish though and Van Gerwen had a two darter on 100. Only to miss the second double 20.

But Van den Bergh missed 89 to hold and Van Gerwen went one away at 7-5. A 180 for Van den Bergh applied pressure but it didn’t matter as he sealed it on double eight.