Michael van Gerwen triumphs in Exeter to seal back-to-back Premier League weekly titles
Michael van Gerwen made it back-to-back weekly titles in the Premier League as he triumphed on Night Five in Exeter with a 6-3 win over Jonny Clayton in the final.
Reigning champion Van Gerwen replicated his successive weekly wins at this stage of last year’s competition as he secured another £10,000 bonus and stretched his lead at the top of the table to six points.
The world number three, who claimed glory in Dublin last week, picked up from where he left off as he made it six games unbeaten in the elite invitational.
Van Gerwen began the night at the Westpoint Arena with a 6-3 win over a below-par Gerwyn Price in a repeat of last week’s dramatic final.
He then averaged 101 in a 6-4 defeat of Nathan Aspinall in the Semi-Finals, before denying Clayton 6-3 in the final.
The final saw Van Gerwen take control in the early stages as he opened up a 3-0 lead over the 2021 champion – who was appearing in his first final of the campaign.
The Welshman rallied, reducing the deficit to just one leg as he trailed 4-3, but only for Van Gerwen to win consecutive legs to seal a second successive crown.
“I’m six points clear now – I love it,” admitted a bullish Van Gerwen.
“The pressure is on every week and you have to perform, so it’s a relief to win as well.
‘You have to believe in your own ability and I was at my best when I had to be tonight.
“Overall, I think it was a good night for myself.
“The will to win is there and when you get confidence in the Premier League it’s massive.”
Clayton moves up two places to fifth courtesy of picking up three league points thanks to victories over Peter Wright – who is yet to get off the mark – and Dimitri Van den Bergh.
Elsewhere, semi-finalists Aspinall and Van den Bergh leave Exeter with two points apiece thanks to 6-3 Quarter-Final wins over Michael Smith and Chris Dobey respectively.
Wright remains rooted to the foot of the table following a fifth straight defeat and remains five points adrift of Masters champion Dobey – who is without a win since his opening night title in Belfast.
Premier League Darts 2023 Night Five Results
Night Five – Thursday March 2
Westpoint Exeter
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Michael Smith
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-3 Chris Dobey
Jonny Clayton 6-5 Peter Wright
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Nathan Aspinall
Jonny Clayton 6-2 Dimitri van den Bergh
Final
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Jonny Clayton
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