Michael van Gerwen secures hat-trick of Premier League weekly titles in Liverpool

Michael van Gerwen clinched a record third consecutive weekly title in the Premier League courtesy of a 6-4 victory over Michael Smith in the final in Liverpool.

Van Gerwen headed to Merseyside having claimed back-to-back titles in Dublin and Exeter and continued his dominance to become the first player to win three straight nights since the knockout format was introduced.

The Dutchman bounced back from his agonising defeat to Andrew Gilding in Sunday’s UK Open final by adding another £10,000 weekly bonus and extending his lead at the top of the table to eight points.

Van Gerwen began Night Six with a commanding 6-2 victory over Jonny Clayton, before thrashing Peter Wright 6-1 to set up a show-down against World Champion Smith.

The pair kicked off the final with 15-dart holds before Van Gerwen struck the first blow, punishing three missed darts at doubles from the St Helens star to break throw in leg three.

Van Gerwen extended his lead with a 14-darter, but Smith came roaring back, converting a clinical 111 combination to reduce the deficit, which he followed with back-to-back 180s in leg six.

Smith was unable to produce another moment of nine-dart magic against the reigning Premier League champion, but after levelling the contest with a 12-darter, he continued his blistering burst with an 11-dart hold in leg seven.

However, Van Gerwen was undeterred, restoring his lead with a 14-dart break in leg nine, before wrapping up victory on double ten, after Smith had wired a dart at the bull to force a decider.

“You have to turn up in a final against a player like Michael Smith, and I’m glad I did,” said Van Gerwen, who has won his last nine Premier League matches.

“When you are under pressure, it’s the best feeling in the world to produce good darts. It gives you joy and it gives you confidence.

“I know how to win without playing my A-game, but I think in patches tonight against Michael Smith, I did play really well.

“I’m not where I want to be yet, but I am winning games and when you see the table, I can’t really complain!”

Smith was struggling with illness ahead of Thursday’s action, but the world number one claimed battling wins over Dimitri Van den Bergh and Nathan Aspinall to claim a precious three points and strengthen his standing in second place in the table.

Bully Boy produced checkouts of 110 and 122 in his 6-3 win over Van den Bergh, before crashing in five 180s to dispatch a wasteful Aspinall in the Semi-Finals, punishing 16 missed darts at doubles from his opponent.

Aspinall had produced a flawless display to inflict a fifth consecutive defeat on Night One winner Chris Dobey in the Quarter-Finals, converting all six of his attempts at double in a 6-4 success.

Dobey succumbed with a ton-plus average for the second straight week, as Aspinall landed 112, 143 and 100 finishes to maintain his position in the top four.

In the evening’s curtain-raiser, Wright opened his Premier League account for 2023 with a dramatic 6-5 win over Gerwyn Price, despite missing eight match darts in a gripping finale.

Wright raced into a 5-2 lead before Price responded to restore parity at five apiece, although the Welshman was unable to complete the comeback – squandering three match darts of his own in the decider.

Premier League Darts 2023 Night Six Results

Thursday March 9

M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price 5-6 Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Jonny Clayton
Chris Dobey 4-6 Nathan Aspinall
Michael Smith 6-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh

Semi-Finals
Peter Wright 1-6 Michael van Gerwen
Nathan Aspinall 2-6 Michael Smith

Final
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Michael Smith