Michael van Gerwen seals third Euro Tour title of 2022 at the European Open
Michael van Gerwen claimed a third European Tour title of the season at the 2022 European Darts Open in Leverkusen with an 8-5 win over Dimitri Van den Bergh in the final.
Having already triumphed at the German Championship and Austrian Open, Van Gerwen continued his dominance of this year’s European Tour by adding another £25,000 title.
The world number three had seen off Daryl Gurney in his opener on Saturday, and overcame Premier League rival Jonny Clayton in the Last 16 to begin a superb final day at the Ostermann Arena.
He then prevailed in a dramatic decider against Dirk van Duijvenbode, who was punished for squandering seven match darts in the last two legs of their Quarter-Final.
Van Gerwen gained revenge over Luke Humphries in the Semi-Finals for a whitewash defeat to the former World Youth Champion in the recent German Darts Grand Prix, averaging 105 in a 7-2 rout.
He then held off Van den Bergh’s challenge – in the Belgian’s bid for a first European Tour title – to pick up his 35th European Tour title.
Van den Bergh broke throw with a 13-darter in the opening leg, but Van Gerwen replied in kind to level and also added an 11-darter as he moved 3-1 up.
Van den Bergh hit back to level at three-all and responded to a superb 164 checkout from Van Gerwen to take out 80 in leg eight.
Van Gerwen, though, found another gear to pull clear, hitting six perfect darts in a 12-darter in leg nine and then finding double four to move 6-4 up.
Three missed doubles allowed Van den Bergh in to win leg 11, but the Belgian then paid for missing two darts to level the tie as Van Gerwen posted double ten to restore his two-leg lead and double eight to seal the title.
“It was really hard and I’m glad I won,” said Van Gerwen, who averaged 102.5 in the final.
“Dimitri is a phenomenal player, he always pushes me and he’s a good player and a good guy. Sometimes he’s a bit naive but I like him, and I think he’s good for darts.
“The crowd today were phenomenal and I can’t wish for anything more. It’s always amazing in Leverkusen.”
Van den Bergh ended German hopes in the event with a 6-4 win over Martin Schindler in the Last 16, and finished six doubles from seven attempts in a crushing 6-1 Quarter-Final win over Josh Rock.
He was then given a bye into his first European Tour final after James Wade withdrew ahead of their Semi-Final through illness.
Wade had produced some superb form throughout the weekend, and defeated Jose de Sousa and Ryan Searle on Sunday.
Wade had felt unwell following his win over Searle, and after being attended to by medics in the venue, he was advised not to continue.
Humphries overcame Brendan Dolan in the Last 16 and then averaged almost 108 to see off Nathan Aspinall, before an imperious MVG ended his bid for a second European Tour title of the year.
Northern Irish prospect Rock saw off Scott Williams to reach his first European Tour Quarter-Final, ending another impressive weekend.
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European Darts Open 2022 – Day Three Results
Sunday May 8
Third Round
Afternoon Session
Gerwyn Price 5-6 Nathan Aspinall
Luke Humphries 6-4 Brendan Dolan
Joe Cullen 3-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Jonny Clayton
Scott Williams 2-6 Josh Rock
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-4 Martin Schindler
Jose De Sousa 4-6 James Wade
Ryan Searle 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Nathan Aspinall 3-6 Luke Humphries
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-6 Michael van Gerwen
Josh Rock 1-6 Dimitri van den Bergh
James Wade 6-5 Ryan Searle
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 7-2 Luke Humphries
Dimitri van den Bergh w/o James Wade (Wade withdraws through illness)
Final
Michael van Gerwen 8-5 Dimitri van den Bergh
