Mighty Mike's Epic Win In Germany

MIGHTY VAN GERWEN POWERS PAST ANDERSON FOR GERMAN DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP WIN
 

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN claimed victory in the German Darts Championship with a stunning 6-2 win over Gary Anderson in an incredible final at Halle 39 in Hildesheim on Sunday.

The Dutch superstar's stunning start to 2015 continued in style as he won his third successive tournament - following his victories in two Coral UK Open Qualifiers last weekend - and his fourth during February after also winning The Unibet Masters.

Van Gerwen's £25,000 first prize in Hildesheim also takes his prize money won in just over a fortnight to £110,000, and also gave him a measure of revenge over Anderson following the Scot's victory in the William Hill World Championship semi-finals.

The world number one had shown flashes of his brilliant best during wins over Jelle Klaasen, Stephen Bunting - who he whitewashed - Joe Murnan and Mensur Suljovic before producing an unstoppable display in the final.

After winning the opening leg on tops - in 17 darts with his fifth dart at a double - van Gerwen traded 180s with Anderson in the second before the World Champion levelled on double 12 with a 14-darter.

The pair both landed maximums as van Gerwen produced a 12-darter in leg three to regain the lead, before Anderson fired in an 11-darter - featuring his fourth 180 in as many legs - to tie the game up at two-all.

Van Gerwen, though, found another gear as he took out 151 for a 12-darter to move 3-2 up, broke with a sensational 167 checkout in leg six and then hit a ten-dart finish to lead 5-2, before another 12-darter sealed a magical win.

He ended the ten-minute contest with a 117.94 average and four 180s, with Anderson landing five maximums and averaging 103.78 but not getting a dart at a double following the fourth leg!

The win is van Gerwen's fourth European Tour title in the four years since the events were introduced, making him the concept's most successful player.

"I'm really happy with how the tournament went, and to win this trophy is brilliant for me," said van Gerwen. "I played really well and I had to against Gary.

"He showed why he is World Champion and when he's on form you have to play like this if you're going to beat him."

He added: "It's lovely to be the first player to win four of these European Tour events because they are so hard to win.

"You have great crowds and you want to perform for the fans, so it's very nice when you play like this. I hope I can win many more."

Anderson had been bidding to retain the German Darts Championship title, having overcome Justin Pipe in last year's final, but had to settle for the £10,000 runner-up prize.

"To get to the final is an achievement in itself because the standard is so high nowadays," said Anderson. "Michael deserved to win, and from two-all in the final he upped a gear."

Anderson had defeated Ricky Williams and Steve Beaton to win through to the last eight, where he whitewashed Justin Pipe with a brilliant display of finishing - hitting six doubles from seven attempts - before overpowering Adrian Lewis 6-2 in the semis.

Lewis was joined in the last four by Austrian ace Suljovic, who had seen off Cristo Reyes, Kim Huybrechts, Michael Smith and Robert Thornton as he reached his third European Tour semi-final.

Suljovic's success moves him closer to the world's top 32, as he took home £5,000 prize money.

The event also saw Bolton's Joe Murnan win through to his first ranking quarter-final, as he followed up wins over Michael Barnard and Ian White with a third round defeat of Brendan Dolan.

Murnan hit back from 4-0 down against van Gerwen to trail just 4-3 before the eventual champion pulled away for victory.

Justin Pipe's run to the quarter-finals moves him back into the world's top 16, while Robert Thornton and Vincent van der Voort also reached the last eight - with the latter being a quarter-finalist for his sixth successive event.

The next £115,000 PDC European Tour event will be the Gibraltar Darts Trophy from March 20-22, with coverage to be streamed online through www.LIVEPDC.TV and a series of bookmakers' websites.

Quarter-Finals
Gary Anderson was the first man to win through to the semi-finals, whitewashing Justin Pipe in a brilliant display as he hit six doubles from seven attempts.

The Scot landed a 177 and took out 122 on the bull to break in the opening leg before scoring another 177 in leg two, punishing two missed doubles from Pipe to move two legs up.

He then finished 72 and 83 - on the bull - to pull clear before punishing two further misses from Pipe in the fifth after the pair traded 180s.

Pipe landed another maximum in leg six, but was unable to stop Anderson landing tops to seal a comprehensive win in a rematch of last year's final in Hildesheim.

Anderson will meet Adrian Lewis in the semis, after the Stoke ace overcame Vincent van der Voort 6-4.

The pair shared the first four legs before Lewis landed a 180 and took out 125 to break throw in the fifth.

Van der Voort hit back to level, but Lewis finished tops to move back ahead and then took out 119 for a 5-3 lead, with the Dutchman hitting back with the aid of a 180 in leg nine but unable to halt his opponent in the next as tops sealed victory.

World number one Michael van Gerwen averaged 103.42 as he joined his rivals from the world's top four in the semis, defeating Joe Murnan 6-4 in a high-quality game.

Van Gerwen finished 125 and 121 as he took the opening two legs and then finished 84 on the bull and 90 for a 12-darter to move 4-0 up, before Murnan hit back with double ten, a 69 finish and a superb 12-darter of his own.

Tops moved van Gerwen 5-3 up, and though he missed six match darts in leg nine as Murnan kept his hopes alive, the Dutchman wrapped up the win in the next.

Mensur Suljovic now meets van Gerwen in the last four, after the Austrian won through to his third European Tour semi-final with a 6-3 defeat of Robert Thornton.

Suljovic landed a 180 and an 86 finish for the opening leg before Thornton replied with a maximum in a 13-darter, but Suljovic took the next two for a 3-1 lead.

Thornton hit back on tops, but missed his chance to level in leg six as double nine edged Suljovic away and tops put the Austrian to the brink of victory.

Thornton finished 116 to keep his hopes alive, but he was unable to take the ninth leg as Suljovic took out 72 on double 16 to seal his semi-final place.

Semi-Finals
World Champion Gary Anderson swept aside world number four Adrian Lewis 6-2 to book his place in the German Darts Championship final for a second successive year in Hildesheim.

The Scot landed a 180 and double ten to take the opening leg before doubling his advantage with a break in leg two, punishing five missed doubles from Lewis.

The UK Open champion hit back on tops, but Anderson finished 80 with two double tops to restore his lead and moved 4-1 up with a 14-darter.

Lewis took the sixth with a 13-darter despite a 171 score from Anderson, who finished 122 on the bull for a 5-2 lead before taking out 74 on double ten to complete the win.

Michael van Gerwen joined Anderson in the final - ahead of their Betway Premier League clash on Thursday - as he defeated Mensur Suljovic 6- to remain on course for a third successive ranking title and a fourth tournament win of the month!

The Dutchman landed a 180 as the took the opener, and though Suljovic took out 78 to level it was the world number one who pulled clear by taking the next four legs - including a 130 checkout - to lead 5-1 before finishing double eight for the win.

Final
Gary Anderson v Michael van Gerwen
0-1 - van Gerwen is first to a double, with an Anderson 180 coming in vain as the Dutchman lands double ten.
1-1 - The pair trade 180s before Anderson levels on double 12.
1-2 - Both players land maximums for a second successive leg, as van Gerwen moves back ahead with an 12-darter - finishing 81 with two double 18s, as Anderson waited on 41 after nine darts.
2-2 - Anderson lands his fourth 180 of the game in an 11-darter as he levels.
2-3 - van Gerwen takes out 151 to move back ahead.
2-4 - Anderson hits his fifth maximum of the game, but van Gerwen finishes 167 to break throw and move two legs clear.
2-5 - van Gerwen scores 180, 140 and 149 before pinning double 16 for a stunning ten-darter.
2-6 - van Gerwen lands another maximum before finishing tops for a 12-darter to claim the title in brilliant fashion - ending with a 117.94 average!

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German Darts Championship
Sunday February 15

Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Gary Anderson 6-0 Justin Pipe
Vincent van der Voort 4-6 Adrian Lewis
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Joe Murnan
Robert Thornton 3-6 Mensur Suljovic

Semi-Finals
Gary Anderson 6-2 Adrian Lewis
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Mensur Suljovic

Final
Gary Anderson 2-6 Michael van Gerwen

All games are the best of 11 legs.

Match Stats
Quarter-Finals

Semi-Finals

Final