MIGHTY MIKE COMPLETES DUBAI DUTY FREE DARTS MASTERS TREBLE
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN won a third successive Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters title with a thrilling 11-8 comeback win against Phil Taylor in Friday's final of the PDC World Series of Darts event.
The Dutchman had claimed victory in the first two years of the tournament at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, and battled his way to glory with a gutsy display to continue his amazing winning run.
Having had to hit back from three legs down in Thursday's quarter-final against Raymond van Barneveld, van Gerwen repeated the feat before overcoming Adrian Lewis 11-9 in the semi-finals.
He also trailed 8-6 against Taylor in the final, but responded superbly to surge to victory with five unanswered legs.
"It's a brilliant win for me and I'm really proud," said van Gerwen. "I'm delighted because this is the hardest tournament I've had to win here, beating Raymond, Adrian and then Phil.
"It's been an amazing tournament, really difficult and the games were so tough so I couldn't wish for any more - every player played well in this event.
"I missed a couple of chances at the beginning of the final and Phil punished me, but I stayed close and was waiting for him to make a mistake and I took advantage.
"To beat Phil in the final is always special and I'm really glad to win here again."
Taylor had finished 125 in leg two as the opening four legs were shared, before van Gerwen edged 3-2 up on double eight and then broke for the first time by taking out 96 for an 11-dart leg.
Taylor, though, replied with an 11-darter before taking out a 14-dart finish to level and checkouts of 64 and 75 to move 6-4 up with a four-leg burst before sharing the next four to retain that advantage at 8-6.
However, the final turned in the next two legs as three missed doubles from Taylor allowed van Gerwen to level, before the Dutchman produced scores of 180 and 171 in a 13-darter to regain the lead at 9-8.
Taylor landed a 171 in reply in the 18th leg only to miss tops as van Gerwen followed a 180 with double ten to move to the brink of a victory which he sealed by taking out 68.
Taylor had booked his place in the final with a ruthless 11-3 demolition of World Champion Gary Anderson in their semi-final, before being overhauled by van Gerwen's late surge in the final.
"It was in my own hands and missing darts at doubles broke my heart, but I've got to take the positives because I've not played this well before in Dubai," said Taylor.
"Michael's a special player, he hits the right shots at the right time and he bullies people during the game.
"He's a phenomenal player and I love playing him, and I think me and him are going to have a lot of battles over the next 12 months or two years because I'm playing well again and everything's coming together."
World Champion Anderson had been competing in the PDC's World Series of Darts for the first time, and admitted that he had enjoyed his experience in Dubai despite his defeat to Taylor.
"It's been a great event but it wasn't to be for me tonight," said Anderson. "I missed a lot of doubles but Phil banged in the 180s and 140s and hit everything.
"He scored well and did a good job there. I really enjoyed it and it's been amazing to be in Dubai."
Lewis, meanwhile, was left to rue a third semi-final defeat in the World Series of Darts since 2013, and admitted that his missed chance to take a 9-7 lead proved the turning point.
"I've really enjoyed the week and it's been a fantastic tournament," said Lewis. "Michael hit a couple of 174s at the right time which put me under the cosh and he came back well.
"That's probably the windiest I've ever played in on stage but I thought I did well. I'm throwing a 20 gram dart and that's going to be affected more than a 25 gram dart that Michael throws but it's one of those things."
The PDC's World Series of Darts will continue next month with the Zipang Casino Japan Darts Masters in Yokohama on June 27 & 28, before heading Down Under in August for events in Perth, Sydney and Auckland.
Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters
Friday May 29
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 11-3 Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen 11-9 Adrian Lewis
Best of 21 legs
Final
Michael van Gerwen 11-8 Phil Taylor
Best of 21 legs
MATCH INFORMATION
SEMI-FINALS
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
1-0 - Taylor kicks off the match with a 180 and adds a 125 before taking the opening leg on double two.
1-1 - Anderson levels the game by landing double top.
2-1 - Taylor finishes 24 to hold throw and regain the edge.
3-1 - Anderson is unable to land two darts at double 18, allowing Taylor back in on double two for the game's first break of throw.
4-1 - Taylor is first to a finish, initially missing double 16 to take out 134 before returning to hit the bed at the fourth time of asking.
5-1 - Anderson lands a maximum, but is left waiting on a double when Taylor finishes 121 on the bull for another break of throw.
6-1 - Taylor wins his fifth successive leg, opening with a 177 before finishing double 16.
7-1 - Taylor hits a 180 to leave four before again landing double two.
8-1 - Taylor takes out 117 to claim his seventh straight leg.
8-2 - Anderson hits back in style by landing two 180s in the leg, which he claims on double 12.
9-2 - Taylor restores his advantage, capitalising on five missed doubles by Anderson to break by landing double ten.
9-3 - Anderson this time checks out 117 as he claims his third leg of the contest.
10-3 - Anderson lands a 180, but double four moves Taylor a leg away from victory.
11-3 - Taylor seals his place in the final by taking out 67.
Michael van Gerwen v Adrian Lewis
1-0 - Lewis misses three darts at doubles across two leg to win the opening leg, and van Gerwen breaks throw on double five.
1-1 - Lewis levels by taking out 120 to hit back.
1-2 - The world number four lands tops to move in front.
1-3 - Lewis takes out 80 on tops as he breaks throw for a two-leg lead.
1-4 - The Stoke ace wins a fourth successive leg, taking out 47 on double 16.
2-4 - van Gerwen hits back by winning his first leg in five.
2-5 - Lewis fires in a 180 before taking out 61 on double 18.
3-5 - van Gerwen lands a maximum in reply before punishing a missed bullseye from Lewis, for a 121 checkout, by landing double eight.
3-6 - Double four sees Lewis regain his three-leg cushion.
4-6 - Lewis fires in a maximum, but van Gerwen finishes 106 on double 16 to hit back.
5-6 - van Gerwen breaks throw by finishing 94 on tops.
6-6 - van Gerwen levels the game in quick-time, adding a 180 and double ten.
6-7 - Lewis this time lands double ten as he edges ahead.
7-7 - Lewis fires in a 180, but van Gerwen hits back to level.
7-8 - Lewis holds throw to regain the lead
8-8 - The pair trade 180s before Lewis is punished for missing two darts - at double 16 and eight - to claim a two-leg lead, as van Gerwen returns on double two to level.
9-8 - The world number one produces a killer blow to lead for the first time, hitting a 174 score to leave 36 before hitting double 18 - after Lewis misses double 12 for a 141 checkout.
10-8 - The pair trade 180s before van Gerwen fires in double 16 to move a leg away from the win.
10-9 - Lewis keeps his hopes alive by finishing 62 on tops, despite a maximum from van Gerwen.
11-9 - van Gerwen lands a 174 score before sealing victory on tops to remain on course for a third successive title.
FINAL
Michael van Gerwen v Phil Taylor
1-0 - van Gerwen finishes double 18 to open with a 13-dart leg.
1-1 - Taylor responds in 12 darts by taking out 125 to level.
2-1 - Taylor misses tops to finish 117, and van Gerwen lands double ten.
2-2 - The roles are reversed as van Gerwen is punished for his misses as Taylor steps in on tops.
3-2 - Taylor lands a 177 but van Gerwen posts double eight to move back ahead.
4-2 - The Dutchman breaks throw for the first time by finishing 96 for an 11-darter, after Taylor missed the bull to take out 122.
4-3 - Taylor responds with an 11-darter of his own to break back.
4-4 - Taylor lands double eight for a 14-darter to square the contest again.
4-5 - Taylor moves ahead for the first time with a key break of throw, taking out 64 on double eight.
4-6 - Taylor's charge continues as he fires in a 180 to leave 75 before taking out the combination on double 12 to open up a two-leg cushion.
5-6 - van Gerwen halts his rival's charge by finishing 53.
5-7 - Taylor lands double two to regain his advantage.
6-7 - The pair trade 180s before Taylor misses double seven to punish two misses from van Gerwen, who returns to land double 16.
6-8 - Double eight moves Taylor three legs away from the title.
7-8 - van Gerwen is given a let-off for bursting his score when Taylor misses double five to finish 90 to take a three-leg lead, with the Dutchman finishing double 16 to reduce the gap to one leg once more.
8-8 - van Gerwen breaks throw to level in a dramatic leg, with both players hitting 180s before Taylor misses two darts at double 16, allowing the Dutch ace in to finish 85 on double 14.
9-8 - van Gerwen moves back into the lead with a superb 13-darter, which features scores of 180 and 171 before a maximum from Taylor comes in vain.
10-8 - Taylor's 171 score leaves 72 before van Gerwen fires in a 180 to leave 40 - and when the 16-time World Champion misses tops the Dutchman takes out double ten to move a leg away from victory.
11-8 - van Gerwen completes a hat-trick of victories in the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters by taking out 68 in clinical fashion.